Green (Environmentally Friendly) yet Frugal Christmas Gift Ideas

Most Christmas lists hardly consider the environment as a part of the list. However, there are folks who would love to be more environmentally friendly, but they don't know how to start. For that person on your gift list, I have created some frugal yet "green" Christmas gift ideas.

Everyone wants to save money, right? Well, you can save money for yourself and a person on your list by giving an energy conscious kit full of home supplies. I would suggest including Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs) as well as a window insulation kit in a reusable gift bag. You can now obtain CFLs from any store for about a dollar per bulb, or you can get them from some utility companies for free. Window insulation kits are usually less than ten dollars. A small investment like this gift will save your loved one much money over the next year!

Another frugal yet environmentally conscious gift involves grocery shopping. Buy large canvas bags at your local craft store for cheap, or you can find them at your local second-hand store. Couple those bags with a list of farmers markets or local farms as well as a calendar to track local produce availability. If your loved one has space suitable for a garden, also include some seed packets. This gift will not only encourage recycling but will also encourage local food sourcing.

For your electronics lover, you can give them a gift that will help the earth as well. It is now possible to purchase rechargeable batteries as well as a battery charger for under $20 dollars at most stores. You can also include an informational article about phantom energy users, appliances and electronic equipment that use equipment even when not in use. To top it off, you can purchase a meter at hardware stores for around $20 that tells how much energy electronic equipment uses. This will help your electronics lover lower electricity usage if possible.