How to avoid overconsumption at Christmas?
The holiday season, whether awaited or dreaded, is often synonymous with consumption of disproportionate proportions, justified in a more or less approximate way. The proof: as the month of December approaches, the mountain of expenses that Christmas generates in our wallets comes to mind. Festive decorations, sequined outfits, gifts for Aunt Ginette, or holiday meals…
We might almost forget what really matters during this period and what makes it so magical! Indeed, whatever one might say, nothing beats mulled wine shared with loved ones on a cold winter evening, spent snuggled up in a knitted throw. Do you agree? Perfect ;) There is a good chance that reading this article will interest you, and we invite you to continue!
At a time when consumerist demands emerge from everywhere, our team has reflected on the different options available to you to try to see Christmas in a different light, and not just as a marketing-focused holiday. To do this, we activated our imagination and our sense of resourcefulness, starting a reflection process that led us to find 5 real tips for consuming less during the holiday season.
These tips are, in fact, the ones we have been applying at Mapache for many years. In direct connection with our values and our commitments, we promote ethical and sustainable initiatives every day. The team’s 5 tips for a responsible Christmas therefore fit perfectly into the approach we have been taking since 2015! Come on, enough chitchat, let us let you discover our tips below.
Take a step back from (very) festive advertising content.
Here is a first piece of advice that could actually apply all year round, not just during the Christmas period. In any case, the month of December proves to be particularly conducive to excessive communication from brands. You open Instagram and suddenly you are bombarded with messages intended to convince you that you NEED all these sparkly items to have a good Christmas (yes, we are choosing to talk specifically about sequins with full knowledge, because we know how difficult it is not to give in to what glitters).
No, you will not have better holidays if you buy that sequin top. No, the magic of Christmas is not hidden in those string lights. Do not give in to the sirens of brands, each more glittering than the last. This way, you will avoid a good number of compulsive and useless purchases that you will certainly regret as early as January 1st!
The team's good advice? Close Instagram, pour yourself a good coffee/tea, and take inventory of your Christmas-related belongings. We are ready to bet that you already have plenty to celebrate without excess! Still doubting? Discover our next tip without further delay.
Seek the magic in what you already own… or make what you desire!
Are you an unconditional fan of Christmas and would not want to skip the pretty objects that enhance this festive period for anything in the world? Rest assured, this is also our guilty pleasure. But contrary to what you might think at first, making the holidays magical with what we already own is much simpler than it seems! Indeed, we don't need to change the color of our Christmas decorations every year to enjoy our home in its festive attire…
Let's start with the Christmas tree area. We have unearthed a great idea for you to decorate its branches while limiting expenses, and it goes by the sweet name of "punch needle". This burgeoning embroidery technique, which is simple to perform, allows you to bring original fabric creations to life. The team actually spotted this reel on Instagram that you can draw inspiration from to decorate your tree. Admit it, the result is stunning!
Another tip to apply in the "tree" area is the wrapping technique straight from Japan: furoshiki. This is very easy to do since you only need a piece of fabric (or a large scarf) and a few minutes of practice to make a pretty knot. We also advise you to consult this infographic which will help you with your zero-waste packaging, depending on the shape of the object to be gifted. Now that you have said goodbye to traditional, non-eco-friendly wrapping paper, you are free to let your creativity speak—why not tuck a small branch of dried flowers into your packages? Trust our experience, this detail is always appreciated ;)
And what about the table? If you love warm and authentic evenings, sprinkle dried citrus fruits and cinnamon sticks on your tablecloth. In addition to creating a pretty table, you will return to childhood thanks to the delicious scents that will emanate from these homemade decorations. Yes, yes, you read that right: "homemade" ;) Indeed, dried orange slices are very simple to make. We are slipping a tutorial right here to help you.
Another tip we’ve thought of recently: if you don't have napkin rings for Christmas Eve, grab some jute twine and tie it delicately around your napkins. Just like with your furoshiki wrapping, you are free to add a sprig of dried flowers to bring a little poetry to your holiday table!
Finally, as for the finishing touch to this home-made (or almost) decoration, don't forget to light a few candles. They will be enough to immerse your guests in a festive atmosphere. To change a bit from the eternal taper candles, we recommend the beautiful creations from the e-shop The Josephine Store, the team's favorite.
Enjoy free things.
Do not be mistaken… By "free things," we mean precious moments and those particularly conducive to the Christmas period. If the month of December makes us want to curl up nice and warm, let's take the opportunity to take our eyes off our screens and dedicate our free time to activities that nourish us much more than shopping! Short on inspiration? No worries, we've thought of everything…
If there is a perfect moment to dive into that book that has been catching our eye for weeks… it is definitely Christmas! The context is ideal for devouring the pages of a good novel: the comfort of your armchair, the cold wind blowing outside, tea steaming on the table, the lights of the tree blinking in the room… You have all the ingredients to spend a comforting moment and experience adventures without leaving your home.
For those who don't hold reading in their hearts, head to the kitchen where just a few simple ingredients will allow you to bake delicious Christmas cookies. Baking has the magic of always offering a great reward after the effort: the tasting of delicious sweet treats, so appreciable during this period. Also, you can get started in artistic activities such as watercolor painting. You will easily find inspiration on Pinterest or even Instagram; we are thinking particularly of this account that we really like at Mapache!
Are you more of a nature person? A walk in the forest is always a good idea. For the more sensitive to the cold, remember to arm yourself with a thermos of coffee or tea to warm up. Word is that a "mulled wine" version is also very appreciable ;)
Give intangible gifts.
The years go by, but our obsession remains the same at Christmas: giving our loved ones gifts that will inevitably end up at the back of their cupboard. No doubt about it, material things embody the height of overconsumption during the holidays. Finding gift ideas is always a real headache and unless you know the person you want to spoil inside out, it is better to prioritize... intangible gifts! Put like that, we grant you, it doesn't sound very exciting. But intangible gifts are much nicer than they seem. We have gathered the team's best ideas for you.
Making your gift last for several months is possible with subscriptions! And we are not referring to boxes but rather to cultural subscriptions. A favorite, for example, is what the independent bookstore Mouche offers with its reading subscription. You can also offer a cinema subscription for fans of the 7th art, or a subscription to a music streaming application. We don't necessarily think of it, and yet, this kind of gift has the great advantage of combining the useful with the pleasant. And in a more classic vein, a cooking class or a massage session is always a guarantee of a successful gift.
Prioritize sustainable brands.
Do you like responsible gifts but are a little less of a fan of intangible surprises? If you don't want to give up the pretty packages under the tree, you can of course give material gifts. However, make sure first that this gift will indeed be used by the person. Secondly, when you have to turn to a particular brand, favor ethical and sustainable brands in order to support approaches that make sense during such an important period.
As a consumer, needless to say that your real power lies in your bank card. If we assume that you support what you choose to buy… Then you might as well favor brands that work for the environment and whose societal commitments are proven. Furthermore, in order to increase the durability of their products, these brands systematically combine these commitments with superior quality. It is always more appreciable to receive gifts made to last ;) So giving responsibly is fine, but which brands should you turn to? No worries, at the office we have built our little Pantheon of clean and gorgeous brands!
For the #shoesaddicts, we recommend (very humbly) our iconic Mexican sandal Alegre Champagne, hand-woven by our artisans according to ancestral know-how. A pretty, sunny, and golden gift that is sure to please! And if your loved ones are more into sneakers, head over to Zeta, a young Bordeaux-based brand that makes sneakers from recycled waste in order to reduce its environmental impact. For smaller budgets not wanting to sacrifice eco-responsibility, we invite you to discover the gems from the brand Refyld: natural and rechargeable skincare products with delicious scents.
This article is already coming to an end! We hope that reading our tips will be useful to you as the holidays approach and that you will even find joy in avoiding overconsumption this year ;)
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