No, I am not talking about food. Though that can be frozen and eaten at a later time as well.

Don't just throw away those Christmas cards that were sent to you: you can cut off the note part and store the cover for so many things, like tags for next year's presents. We have also cut the covers up and created out own Christmas cards the following year. They can also be made into ornaments for next year. And I'm not talking the one's they do in schools. (more on ornaments next holiday season and it works into a nice home math lesson as well).

Now about that dead-live Christmas tree. If you haven't taken it to the curb yet, listen up. Our community will collect the trees and sink them into the local waterways as habitats for fish and other water animals. If your community doesn't have this, it might be something to work on with your community for next year. Better yet, see if they would mind if you did it yourself for this year. Maybe you can find a local mulcher willing to take the tree, even pick it up. Or mulch it yourself. If all else fails, you can at least place it in your back yard and create shelter for animals for the winter. It will at least do double duty before going away.

Also try resisting buying wrapping paper on sale this year for next year. These left overs just promote further use of wrapping paper. We have been trying to use up the wrapping paper and not buy anymore. Wrapping gifts in cloth promotes others to do the same and is highly reusable. I do not forget those wonderful holiday gift bags and gift bags throughout the year; Easily reusable, easily stored. Maybe even placing the gift in a bag that can have other duties as well such as shopping and groceries well beyond the gift.

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Please leave the idea in the comment section.

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