Christmas 2013 can be seen everywhere. Full green trees are riding on the top of family vans, colorful lights line city streets, songs of chestnuts and a deceased mother’s shoes play in local establishments, and ornaments are sold everywhere from coffee shops to gas stations.

But the holidays can be a stressful time for a lot of people, especially when it comes to money.

This Christmas you can close your wallet while reducing the amount of waste in your area by making it a “Green Christmas.”

Use your imagination and turn aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and old books and phone books into stars, snowflakes, and doves.

Some towns around the United States have already jumped on this recycled bandwagon.
Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton, ND celebrated Christmas Wednesday afternoon with a Save the Earth tree, decorated with homemade ornaments from local children.

In Fargo, ND, a news station challenged a local designer to decorate her house for the holidays with only $100. Lisa Budeau used sweaters and belts for chair covers, books as place mats, and a ladder to hang lights and stockings. Bed sheets were used as a tree skirt. She also got her daughters involved. They used melted crayons and glass ornaments to create unique decorations for the tree.

Via Pinterest, Anna Moseley gives great suggestions for a “Green” Christmas on her website:

* use energy efficient LED bulbs
* make homemade wreaths from evergreen trimmings, pinecones, and discarded ribbons
* use recycled garlands and cut-paper snowflakes
* make recycled ornaments using jar lids and photos
* send hand-painted holiday cards from old cardboard or brown packing paper

It’s a great way to spend some creative time with family this season. Plus, this way, you can spend more money on those gifts that are on your Christmas list.

image via: Wikimedia Commons