All the minimilist or zero waste blogs talk about "having" to get christmas presents because that is what people expect of you, and trying to avoid giving presents or cutting down who you get them for. But that doesn't really fit in with who I am, I love presents! I think it is possible to be enviornmentally conscious and fully embrace the gift giving culture (with reused/repurposed wrapping paper).
On the other side, the "normal" people, assume it will be very difficult for me to buy within my restricitons (given my huge family and the 30+ people I have to buy for) but it isn't at all.
Three years ago (last time I was in Ireland) I bought all my presents in charity shops (except for Ciarán's which I filled out with some items I found on adverts.ie ~because everyone else was just getting token presents whereas he was getting his main present from me), that year I found everything from crystal vases to DVD's (I don't want to give any of this years presents away) and didn't stuggle at all.
This year is even easier, because I have so many more options, if I don't find something that someone would like in a charity shop I can also get them a reasonably packaged consumable, or a voucher for an experience or something digital (I have only recieved one christmas list that is too narrow for my restricitions).
On the other side, the "normal" people, assume it will be very difficult for me to buy within my restricitons (given my huge family and the 30+ people I have to buy for) but it isn't at all.
Three years ago (last time I was in Ireland) I bought all my presents in charity shops (except for Ciarán's which I filled out with some items I found on adverts.ie ~because everyone else was just getting token presents whereas he was getting his main present from me), that year I found everything from crystal vases to DVD's (I don't want to give any of this years presents away) and didn't stuggle at all.
This year is even easier, because I have so many more options, if I don't find something that someone would like in a charity shop I can also get them a reasonably packaged consumable, or a voucher for an experience or something digital (I have only recieved one christmas list that is too narrow for my restricitions).
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