Green Gifting Tip #1, Plus 3 Ways to Save Resources and Money when Gifting!

Are you like me, you love to give gifts but your financial situation doesn’t always match your feelings of generosity? Well I have found a way to save myself money and some of the earth’s resources without compromising the joy and spirit of giving. And I want to share it with YOU! It’s something my grandmother taught me. It involves the old art of being RESOURCEFUL.

Green Gifting Tip #1: Be Resourceful!

Resourceful is defined as: using our wits, proper judgement and common sense to solve problems and meet challenges. Synonyms include: creative, imaginative and enthusiastic.

It doesn’t seem like we use this word very much these days, but I think it’s time to bring it back and make it cool again! We need this skill more than ever to meet the challenge of protecting our environment, AND we can save some money in the process.

I spent less than $200 for holiday gifts this past season which was a big change from previous years of using my credit card to buy gifts I couldn’t really afford. Since then I have given awesome birthday and Valentine’s gifts with minimal financial investment.

Guess how I did it? That’s right, by being resourceful, and everyone loved their presents. This even worked on my Generation Z son! I made him a terrarium using colors that matched his bedroom design, and he liked it so much he asked for another one that I later gifted him on his birthday.

You might be thinking right now, I’m not creative enough, or I don’t have the time or some other excuse. But just hold tight!

I want to share 3 ways of being resourceful that you might not have thought of or that may trigger some new ideas for you.

First way to be resourceful when gifting, just like grandma: Re-gift!

My grandmother was raised a poor farm girl in Missouri, then went on to raise 5 kids with a single blue-collar paycheck that my hard-working grandfather provided. So, she didn’t really have a choice about being resourceful. She had to save money in whatever way she could around the house. I grew up watching her reuse cereal and bread bags as small garbage bags, cooking meals from scratch, canning vegetables from the garden and she even re-gifted items that she no longer wanted or used.

Look around your home, what was given to you that would be a better contribution to someone else? Just try looking at the items in a new way, and really take in all that you have. Maybe re-gifting something would clear up some space for you. I believe that re-gifting can be a win-win situation if you really think about what the other person needs, likes or wants.

Second way to be resourceful when gifting, just like mother: Support small businesses and buy locally!

I’m guessing my mother came out of the womb as a hairless rebel. A true, bleeding heart liberal who is resourceful in a political, Robin Hoodish way. She buys her gifts from small, local artists and businesses, not wanting to give her money (resources) to corporations and countries that do not honor human rights and planet earth. Buying locally made and grown things also means less resources used for transporting them. She also asks family to not purchase items made in China when gifting to her. Just that alone forces one to be resourceful because so many things are made in China. We are so fortunate to have readily available and affordable electronics, clothes, etc. but at what environmental costs are we paying in the long run?

Third way to be resourceful when gifting, just like sister: Create it yourself!

My sister can figure out how to make, build or fix anything. She is resourceful in an imaginative and enthusiastic way. She has been a true inspiration to me as I currently spread my creative wings. I think you can surprise yourself with what you can make with a little time, some household items and a couple of YouTube videos later. And in my family, the items we make for each other are the most cherished. Remember, being creative can look like: making a homemade meal, planting a flower garden, writing a poem for someone, creating a craft item like a painting or even giving a really good back rub!

Here is my latest example of being resourceful in a creative way, using things that I already had from other craft projects.

How to Make Magnets with Polymer Clay, Wrapping Paper and/or Pressed Flowers

To make these you will need: polymer clay, Mod Podge, magnet, craft glue, wrapping paper and/or pressed flowers.

I came up with this magnet idea after receiving a birthday gift wrapped in some of the prettiest paper I have ever seen! My challenge to preserve the paper somehow inspired my resourceful idea of turning it into magnets. So, I looked at my polymer clay supply and used some leftover clay from another project to create small pancakes. I then used one of my rings (how resourceful of me) and a texture wheel to create designs in the clay. After baking at 275 degrees for 15 minutes and cooling, I applied an one inch magnet strip with craft glue onto the back. After the glue set, I used Mod Podge to adhere and seal cut out flowers from the wrapping paper and flowers from my garden that I pressed last year. Not having a flower press yet, I pressed the flowers using thick white paper and a big book. Go here to learn more about pressing flowers. You can also use any craft paper you might have, like the sea turtle paper below. Now I have many little gifts for people that I can add to a gift bag with other homemade things, or I can just give them to loved ones as little tokens of appreciation.

To see another item I made with dried flowers, check out Country Chic Magnet with Dried Flowers, Bronze!

I am very fortunate to have had 3 strong and resourceful women as examples in my life, but even if you don’t, you can start being an example for others anytime you choose! Hopefully you feel so inspired now that you finally make some time for that creative project you’ve been wanting to try, whether it’s a new recipe, gardening, craft project or healing technique. Or maybe you’ll finally go into that cute little shop downtown that sells locally made items.

Being resourceful is good for the environment and our wallets, so it really is a win-win way to be! Brigitte