Worried about the upcoming gift-giving holiday season? Frazzled about hitting the gift-mark without breaking the bank? Just like in O. Henry’s classic tale, “The Gift of the Magi,” the art of gift-giving can be tragically ironic even when the giver’s heart is in the right place. But have no fear, I’m here to guide you how to be generous with your gifts while being thoughtful, sustainable and frugal (in a good way!).

As Christmas approaches, so do all the pressures to be giving and charitable, and buy everything in sight that’s marked “sale.” Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, it’s difficult to abstain from the season’s “air of giving.” Besides, most people will celebrate their own cultural or religious equivalent holiday around the same time, be it Greek Orthodox Christmas in early January, or Hanukkah (which features a whopping 8 days of gift-giving!). So we are all more or less familiar with passing off gifts to our kids and relatives, whether under the guise of a bearded Santa or not.

What we are also very familiar with are the constant devious, but brilliant, bombardment of marketing campaigns for the best sales, and ergo, the best gifts, which we must buy this holiday season. Can we collectively say “Black Friday” everyone? And nowadays, the “sales” marketing and subsequent mentality doesn’t just end in 24 hours of exhausting waiting, pushing, and bustling on long, long lines to save a few bucks. No, we have since evolved into a heavy percentage of online-shopping sales, and the extension into “Cyber Monday.” Soon they will have a name for each day of the week after Black Friday to call each of our secret shopaholic personalities out. I don’t know about you, but I find myself doing an absurd amount of shopping to satisfy the market-driven gift “quota.” Plus, more often than not, I end up buying things for myself instead, as well as a ton of impulse buys as I’m nearing the register (or the virtual check-out).

This holiday season, I encourage you to think outside the box when considering showering your loved ones with gifts. Let’s get back to what the spirit of Christmas is all about (whether or not you actually celebrate Christmas). What’s important is that we make our friends and family know they are cherished and loved, so our gifts should first and foremost show thought and care behind them. Gifts don’t have to be extravagant or outlandish to be appreciated by the recipient. Sometimes the smallest attention to detail, or your care in execution, is what makes all the difference. Does the recipient have a particular hobby, or a favorite book or show? You can buy a small token alluding to their golf hobby or Game of Thrones obsession. Did a small household goods item get broken by a pet or a child recently? You can buy a replacement. Thoughtful and personal touches trump costly every time.

Also consider being sustainable and supporting your local economy when choosing gifts. Although the Farmers Market season is dying down for the winter, you can still find some weekend locations sprouting up (link to NYC FM here: https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/ourmarkets). There you can find local produce and some gift-worthy goods such as honey, body care items (natural soap, lotion, etc.), beeswax candles, candy and chocolates. Keep an eye out for semi-annual artisan fairs in locations throughout NYC such as the Holiday Markets at Bryant Park, Union Square and Bushwick. Second-hand goods in thrift shops can be a money-saving and sustainable option for some unique finds. Sites like Etsy have a large variety of unique artisan-made goods you can order. Or, go one step further and create something hand-made yourself!

Here are some more sustainable, repurposing and DIY gift ideas you can consider for your loved ones for this holiday:

Take up knitting and knit a simple scarf or blanket for someone. If you are proficient and want to get fancy, try a hat and gloves next.
Hand make holiday cards and make them personal for the recipient, including their hobbies and fan-obsession references. For an extra special gift, create a customized annual or monthly calendar.
Invest in food or drink items. Seriously, people gotta eat, so you know this is one type of commodity that won’t go to waste. A nice food platter, or a few gourmet condiments, or a festive cider or (alcohol-optional) wine can be coveted holiday items.
Hand paint mason jars, or even recycle some cute jars from condiments, for spice storage or other uses.
Another take on the above idea is to hand paint plain tree ornaments to turn them into customized one-of-a-kind beauties.
Make a customized tea blend and place in recycled tin or a nicely decorated paper bag. Some popular holiday ideas are pumpkin spiced chai or turmeric ginger chai, or you can find tons of other recipes online.
Alternatively, make a custom bath blend with epsom salt and dried herbs (rose petals, lavender flowers, bay leaves, etc.).
Yet another option is a customized massage oil blend. Blend together hydrating oils such as olive, jojoba and pumpkin seed oil (or any other oils you like or use). Top them off with a few essential oil drops to create a revitalizing or a calming scent. There are a lot of recipes on Pinterest and other websites. Or consult with an herbalist or an aromatherapist at a local wellness shop (in Brooklyn I recommend Earth Speak Aromatherapy supply store, Radicle Herb Shop and Remedies Herb shop).
Another cute cosmetic idea is to make your own facial mist or after-shave toner. This can have a base of witch hazel liquid, available in most pharmacies. You can top it off with some vegetable glycerin and aloe vera gel for extra hydration, as well as a few essential oil drops for scent and anti-inflammatory properties. Again, when dealing with essential oils, make sure to follow a reputable recipe to wind up with the correct proportions in the final product.
Make your own giftable candles by purchasing in bulk. All you need is the wick material, soy or beeswax (the most sustainable and health-conscious wax options) to melt, and a mold or container for the candle. The container can be recycled from pre-owned candles, or any cylindrical glass jar with a wide mouth, such as a mason jar. You can even go as far as to recycle candle wax, by collecting leftover unburned wax from the bottoms of used candle jars (see method here). Optional: add some essential oil drops to naturally enhance the scent of the candles. I’d advise following instructions for ratios and procedure from reputable sources, such as Mountain Rose Herbs (see step-by-step guide here). ***For an easier candle-making hack - just decorate a glass jar or container with some pinecones and other festive decor, and place a tea light inside the jar for an instant “voila”!***
[Editors note: You can also always donate to a cause on behalf of someone. For a list of amazing causes (or if you want to support us), please check out our Give Back section.]

Also, here’s a little trick I sometimes use: I gift or regift items that are brand new and I have no use for. Sometimes they can lay in storage for months until I find a suitable occasion or recipient that I feel will like the particular gift and get much more use of it than I would have. I will also often recycle gift bags, tissue paper, and even wrapping paper. I am careful in unwrapping my gifts and then saving the materials for re-wrapping and gifting later. Other options are to wrap in magazines or newspapers, with tweed vine or yarn.

I hope you have found these tips helpful in sparking your gifting-creativity! Please consider incorporating at least some of these ideas into your holiday routine this season. Wishing you healthy, happy and sustainable giving and celebrating for the upcoming festivities!

Smart & Sustainable Holiday Gift Guide, Plus Bonus DIY Ideas By Marina Buksov