Cheap Greetings
Have you priced a greeting card lately? Fancy ones are getting pricey. Sure, you can get a few in the cheap section, but how often are cards glanced at briefly and tossed? Is it REALLY worth the money? Only you can answer, but other than very occasionally, I quit buying them. I have given to enough charities that they send me free ones in the mail, sometimes as a gift for donating, sometimes as incentive to donate more. Do you also get these? Whether you donate or not, consider making these your greeting cards. Some have traditional greetings (get well, thank you, happy birthday). Others have pretty nature photographs, cute sayings, or profound quotations. Often, they’re empty inside, which allows me to write my own greeting. Why fill the landfill with these freebies (or gifts for your donation)? Send them along to friends and family.
Cheap Wrap
I’ve taken to getting practical. Why use wrap that’s ripped off and tossed (plus costs $$)? Here are some cheap (but classy) ideas for gift wrap.
Use a towel. Who doesn’t need an extra one? A jumbo size towel makes a fabulous wrap.
Use a scarf. How chic is that?
Use a baby blanket. Every mom can use an another.
Other ideas for wrap that’s part of the gift:
Tablecloth, a decorative trash can, a household bucket, plant pot, coffee pot or cup, bowl, re-usable shopping bag, etc. Get creative. Practical is always appreciated.
WRAP IT UP AND RECYCLE
I have used shopping bags from stores, magazine covers, toothpaste or tea bag boxes (other product boxes would also work). Some holidays, I’ve dressed up plain brown paper grocery bag wrap with colorful magazine cut-outs. With the holidays come all sorts of cute cut-out pics. Look on the coupon sheets delivered with your newspaper for a zillion cute pictures that make great cut-outs you can combine with either cut-out sayings (happy holidays, Merry Christmas, Joy to the World), or combine them with your own.
Get the kids involved during their winter break. You’ll keep ‘em busy doing something productive that also promotes green living.
~ Sheri McGregor, Editor/Publisher San Diego On The Cheap
Got any cheap tips, you’d like to share? Send ‘em in via the contact form. If yours is chosen, we’ll link to your site (if you promise to link back. . . .)
