It's almost pay day, December is looming on the horizon, your vouchers are in and you're probably preparing to embark on a frenzied mission to (as an old friend of mine affectionately put it) go out and 'buy crap for idiots'. Now, Christmas shopping is an ordeal at the best of times, and you don't need me to remind you why it's likely to be more traumatic for many people than usual this year. But you may find that shopping with your eco hat on could make the experience a whole lot easier.
Read on for our Christmas shopping tips to find out why...
Go online
There are some very obvious benefits to doing your shopping online. First of all, you'll save the cost and C02 emissions associated with driving if you have a car, but it's also fair to say that the bulk of eco-friendly gift ideas around this year are most easily available on the internet.
Shop Local
But if you enjoy the ritual of browsing the shops for gifts, getting whacked in the face by over-full shopping bags and fighting over the free mince pies (I know I do) then then the most sustainable option is shopping locally. This is the perfect time to go out armed with your Wedge Card to take advantage of the offers you'll get in the many participating gift shops. You're also more likely to find unusual and interesting gifts.
Be a bag lady (or gentleman)
You'll find you collect plastic bags like nobody's business if you don't ensure you've brought your own. Make it a priority to collect up all the 'bags for life' you can gather from around the house, prior to your big shopping excursion.
Retail therapy
If you do need to venture on to the high street, there are some great deals at the moment on massages and other treatments to keep your back and shoulders from caving in under all those heavy bags. Neal's Yard's new 30-minute retail massage is now on offer in most of the chain's stores, and surprisingly affordable: you can read about my experience of the treatment here! They also offer a new express treatment called 'glow and go', including mini facials, skin smoothing and exfoliation, which will banish the traces of stress and strain on your body.
If you're in need of caffeine, try and resist the allure of the bigger coffee chains and head to your local branch of AMT or an independent coffee shop.
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