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It creeps up every year but the holiday decorations are going up in the mall, kids are already starting to write Christmas and Hanukah lists. That’s right, the holidays are coming. It may seem a little silly to some to start planning gifts and parties this early. Especially now when many of us will be put on a holiday budget for the first time due to the recession. But there is nothing wrong with having a holiday budget plan. By planning early for the holidays you can save a lot of money and you won’t have to trim down on as many activities as you thought you would. This is the perfect time to introduce someone close to you to an eco-friendly lifestyle or pick up on the habit yourself. These tips can get you started in the right direction
- Money Money Money: The first thing you need to do is sit down and figure out how much money you are willing to spend this holiday season. It doesn’t have to be a set number, due to sales and the price change of the holiday season it is due to change but you should have a range. $2,000-$2,500? $5,000-$6,000? Think about that now and don’t go over your budget. You do not have to spend a fortune to have a great holiday season.
- Every Card You Write: It just might be a whole lot easier to go the e-card route. It saves time and money since a lot of e-card websites are free and allow you to make cards for up to 100 people. Plus it saves on paper. Make the card now, set the date to make sure the e-card is sent by email during the holidays and you’re done. Using recycled paper if you’re making your cards by hand is definitely the way to go.
- Trim the Tree: Buying a Christmas tree is hard work. There are so many to choose from! A new trend in the green community is to buy a living tree. It may not be as big as the ones you usually get but you can plant it in your backyard or local park after the holidays and reduce the carbon foot print. Try to avoid the artificial trees. They are usually made from non-renewable plastics and other toxins. If you have to go the artificial route there are ways to store your tree so that it may last for years and will keep you from buying a new one every December. Going to an organic Christmas tree farm may not be an option for all but if one is in your area you should look into it. Use LED lights or solar powered lights. They save power and your electricity bill will not be as high as those using traditional lights. Make homemade ornaments by doing origami or go collect pine cones and acorns outside and glue a little glitter on them.
- A Bundle of Gifts: Make a list of the people who you would like to send gifts to. Carry this list with you whenever you leave the house. As the holiday season approaches you never know when you might see a great sale on something that a loved one would like. If your budget is tight you can never go wrong with a homemade gift. Baked goods fill the stomach and warm the heart. Make a coupon book filled with tasks that you are willing to do for your loved one as a gift. Make a coupon for the kids allowing them to pick dinner or a family outing. Your husband might like a coupon for a free kiss and hug. You might want to donate to a college fund or start a 529 college savings plan for a child. Name a star after a sci-fi or astrology lover. Plant a tree in someone’s name. Make a donation to someone’s favorite charity in their name. There are countless ways to buy eco-friendly gifts. Donations can be done online and save time. You can always look to Guffly for great eco-friendly gifts. We have something that everyone can use.
- Make Space: More than likely your household has items that they no longer use that sit somewhere collecting dust. Now is a great time to go through those closets and pack up the clothes that are too small and the toys your kids no longer use. The closest and toy chests will be filled after the holidays. But you can donate your gently used items to places like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross where every donation is tax deductable. That way you’ll be getting some cash when you file your taxes and helping someone that is in need now.
Look for more eco-friendly tips and budget saving for the holidays coming from Guffly soon. Happy Holiday Planning!
Guffly is a one product per day online store and community featuring eco friendly products and fair trade lifestyle goods like home, pet, clothing, office and personal accessories. We know that people aren’t interested in ugly stuff, so you can bet Guffly’s green products are stylish, fun and attractive – eco stylish if you will. Shop the Daily Guff at http://www.guffly.com
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Organic cotton hoodie for earth friendly plus size women
Yesterday’s article discussed the lack of attractive eco-friendly fashion for plus size women. There aren’t many options out there for my full figured ladies and it has really been getting under my skin. So, this week’s Voice Your Vote I knew I had to find something that would satisfy the eco-friendly plus size fashionista. This organic cotton hoodie come in sizes ranging from S to XXL and comes in either pumice (pictured above) or graphite. It is also made from bamboo which makes it absorbent, hypoallergenic and of course very comfy. I think this hoodie is super cute and will definitely satisfy everyone’s’ flair for fashion.
Tell us what you think (1-5)
1= not interested at all and I am personally offended that you even suggested it
2= interesting…but not sold
3= I’m intrigued, I would consider making this item a part of my eco-friendly collection
4= How eco-chic of you!
5= WOW! If I don’t have this item in my life immediately I might seriously throw a fit
Would you purchase an eco-friendly hoodie like this one?
Would you like to see eco-friendly clothing that comes in plus sizes?
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100% organic cotton t-shirt for eco-friendly fashion
My friend’s birthday is coming up and I have been looking for a gift for him. He is into the whole eco-friendly lifestyle so I knew I had to find something that was earth friendly. He is pretty fashion forward so I didn’t want his eco-friendly gift to be something that wasn’t attractive. It is one thing to have something eco-friendly it’s another to have it eco-friendly and stylish. I found this shirt and definitely think this is the eco-friendly tee I want to purchase. This lightweight t-shirt comes with a front graphic screen with words from singer/songwriter Chris Pierce’s journal. This t-shirt is made from 100% organic cotton and has a taped crew neck and shoulder seam. This lightweight organic men’s t-shirt is sure to impress his eco-friendly style.
Tell us what you think: (1-5)
1= not interested at all and I am personally offended that you even suggested it
2= interesting…but not sold
3= I’m intrigued, I would consider making this item a part of my eco-friendly collection
4= How eco-chic of you!
5= WOW! If I don’t have this item in my life immediately I might seriously throw a fit
What do you think about this eco-friendly men’s t-shirt?
Would you purchase an eco gift like this for your friend?
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In home recycle bin for eco-friendly consumers.
If you haven’t already read the article regarding recycling that was posted yesterday make sure to do so. http://blog.guffly.com/2009/06/the-real-deal-on-being-eco-friendly-through-recycling/ There is a lot of good information in there to help people understand the ins-and-outs of recycling. It can be confusing with all the information out there but with a simple guide it makes recycling a lot easier. After talking to some people about recycling, one of the reasons that people tend not to recycle as much as they should is because of the inconvenience. Some people don’t have curbside recycling pick-up which means that some have to take their recyclables to a recycling center. The above product accommodates for those inconveniences.
This in home recycling unit can store up to 10 gallons for plastic, glass and metal storage and 5 gallons for paper materials. This recycling center makes recycling a lot easier and eco chic. It comes in a black which makes it a perfect fit for any kitchen. The all-in-one recycling bin offers eco-friendly consumers to organize their recyclables for one easy trip to the recycling center. This product leaves no room for excuses!
Tell us what you think (1-5)
1= not interested at all and I am personally offended that you even suggested it
2= interesting…but not sold
3= I’m intrigued, I would consider making this item a part of my eco-friendly collection
4= How eco-chic of you!
5= WOW! If I don’t have this item in my life immediately I might seriously throw a fit
Does this all-in-one recycling bin match your sustainable living lifestyle?
Would you purchase this in home recycling center for your recyclables?
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I once was a milk container but now I’m a Frisbee!
I am going camping soon and couldn’t be more excited. My friends and I went shopping in preparation for our big get-away and decided to grab some games that we could play while soaking up the summer sun. I came across this really neat toy and decided it was a must have. Since I love playing games outside and being eco-friendly this is the perfect toy.
It’s a Frisbee but not just any Frisbee. This flying disc (I know, who actually calls it flying disc anymore but that is what they are suppose to be called) is made from recycled milk containers! How Guffly is that?! I was so impressed when I saw it I had to get it even though I already have about 5 different Frisbees. It’s lime green and comes in recycled and recyclable packaging. I give it a big Guffly thumbs up for being eco-friendly, recyclable, fun and all around Guffly.
Tell us what you think (1-5)
1= not interested at all and I am personally offended that you even suggested it
2= interesting…but not sold
3= I’m intrigued, I would consider making this item a part of my eco-friendly collection
4= How eco-chic of you!
5= WOW! If I don’t have this item in my life immediately I might seriously throw a fit
Would you bring this Frisbee to your next game of ultimate Frisbee?
Would you purchase this product or a product like this?
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Sleep easy on this organic cotton duvet
As many people now know I am really into eco-friendly living but recently I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the earth friendly products out there. My biggest thing is where do I begin? I want to make serious changes but there are so many ways to go green I need to find how it can easily fit into my life. I’m moving to a new home soon and I figured this would be the best time to make some serious eco-friendly changes.
For me, the best place to make these changes is in the bedroom (Ooh La La). I think it’s time for me to upgrade both the style and earth friendliness of my current bedding. I found this really nice organic cove duvet and I think it’s perfect. Since bedding is something we all need why not choose organic cotton? I figured this was the best way to really jumpstart my eco-friendly living not only because it is made from organically grown and organically processed cotton but it is also helps with allergies and is more comfortable. This organic duvet is made with non-toxic, water based dyes and has a very modern look which I’m all for. I’m sold, what about you?
Tell us what you think: (1-5)
1= not interested at all and I am personally offended that you even suggested it
2= interesting…but not sold
3= I’m intrigued, I would consider making this item a part of my eco-friendly collection
4= How eco-chic of you!
5= WOW! If I don’t have this item in my life immediately I might seriously throw a fit
Is this organic cove duvet something you are interested in?
Is bedding a good place to start to make your eco-friendly changes?
Don’t forget to vote and check back to see what others think!
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Eco-Friendly Clothing with Swagger
I was chatting with a good friend the other day and he was telling me about a work party he had recently been invited to. He was a bit nervous because he wasn’t sure what to wear. He wanted to impress his coworkers but didn’t want to dress as he would in the office. According to him it isn’t so masculine to be overly concerned about clothing so he will remain anonymous for the sake of this post. Because I love eco-friendly products so much I encouraged him to find eco-friendly or organic cotton men’s clothing on the internet.
After searching for hours online (which was most likely a few minutes knowing him) he became very frustrated and claimed there was no attractive eco-friendly clothing out there for men. I strongly disagreed with him and made him show me what he found.
WARNING: Those that are fashion forward should look away
Ok…I don’t want to knock this guys style or anything but I know this isn’t my 20 something friend’s style. I knew I had to prove him wrong and after doing a bit more digging I was able to find a really cool organic cotton polo that was sure to impress his coworkers and keep him looking fly. Not only is the shirt I found made from organic cotton, soy, bamboo and recycled polyester, it also reduces exposure to herbicides, lungicides and pesticides. See Aidan, there are attractive eco-friendly clothing out there for men!
Tell us what you think: (1-5)
1= not interested at all and I am personally offended that you even suggested it
2= interesting…but not sold
3= I’m intrigued, I would consider making this item a part of my eco-friendly collection
4= How eco-chic of you!
5= WOW! If I don’t have this item in my life immediately I might seriously throw a fit
Would you choose the eco-friendly polo shirt I found or the one my friend did or neither?
Is this shirt something you or a friend would wear?
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Do these silver charms suit your fancy?
We want to see if people actually like this style of recycled silver jewelry before we feature it on our site. Let us know what you think!
Vote on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best.
The facts:
- Set of 7 silver plated bangles
- Expandable
- Made from recycled metals
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Burton’s t-shirts: cool designs made from organic cotton fabric.
It’s difficult to find stylish organic clothing for men. What do you think about this organic t-shirt? If we get positive feedback we’ll feature products like this on Guffly.com’s retail site.
Please vote how much you like it on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the best).
About it:
- Short sleeve
- Tree branch graphic design
- Made from 100% organic cotton
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Home decor has become eco-friendly
Do you like this recycled wood grid shelf?
Please vote on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the best).
Product Facts:
- 24″W X 6″D X 18″H
- Made from recycled wood
