Why focus on mostly free Mother’s Day gifts?

For starters, none of us needs more stuff, no one needs to spend more money, and goodness knows, the planet doesn’t need more trash (which is what wrapping paper and a lot of trinkets turn into after the holiday is over).

Don’t Miss: Mother’s Day: Shopping Spree or Shopping Shift? 

That said, as a mom, I just love receiving something that’s meaningful, personal, and shows me both THAT my kids care, and WHY.

That’s why I’ve pulled together this list of the 13 Mostly Free Mother’s Day Gifts I’ve received over the years that I’ve particularly loved. Most of them are not only free to give, but free of a trashy environmental impact, too.

13 Mostly Free Mother’s Day Gifts
(that Mom Will Love – and Mother Earth, too!)

1. Your Time – Does your mom love flowers but hate to garden? Spend two hours in the yard with her pulling weeds or sowing seeds. Is there a particular household chore she hates? Do it for her while she eats her breakfast in bed (see #2) or luxuriously reads the Sunday paper. What else can you do to free up time your mother can spend just on her?

2.  A Delicious Meal – This is always a winner. Serve breakfast in bed. Pack a picnic and head out to the park. Arrange for dinner that everyone pitches in to cook (and don’t forget to do the dishes afterwards). Need recipes? Here’s my zucchini frittata for breakfast or brunch, and my favorite kale cranberry salad for lunch or dinner.

3.  Exercise – Join your mom on a walk or a bike ride. If she loves to play tennis, can you either play with her or line up a match for her with a friend? Is there a hike she’s wanted to do but could never find the time for? Maybe she plays pickle ball. Whatever it is, help her do it.

4.  A DIY Massage  – I used to do this for my mother no matter what day it was. I’d just gently take her hand, rub a little lotion on it, and gently massage the fingers, palm and wrist, usually while we were sitting around talking. Convincing her to let me massage her feet was a little more challenging, but I usually won out. Here’s an introduction to gentle massage techniques if you need it.

5.  Family Stories – I’ve never met a mother who doesn’t love to relive her kids’ exploits (good and bad). While you’re at it, share a story or two about a time she did something particularly extraordinary or helpful or kind for you. And if she wants to pull out the family albums for the millionth time, don’t roll your eyes!

6.  A Special Drink – Brew up your mom’s favorite tea, make homemade lemonade or iced tea, blend together a yummy smoothie or shake, or pour her a glass of organic red or white wine.

7.  E-Mail InBox Clean-up – I’m talking about emptying the inbox and getting rid of thousands of old and unnecessary emails. Would someone please do this for me? Helloooo? Hellooooo???

8.  Online Photo Filing – Oh, no, forget my emails. Please do THIS for me and my thousands of photos that are randomly stored somewhere on Google! I already love you to the moon and back, but do this, and I’ll love you to the sun and back.

9.  Car Detailing – Give her car the works inside and out: clean the dashboard, vacuum the seat cushions, wipe off the grimy indoor windows and door handles, and drive through a car wash. May as well gas up the car while you’re at it. By the way, remember to use the same green cleansers on the inside of the car that you use inside your home. Here are some helpful recipes. 

10. Bicycle Servicing – Get her bike ready for the summer. Adjust the gears, clean off the frame, oil the chain. Track down maps to some local bike trails she might not know about, too.

11.  Garden Tool Cleaning and Sharpening – If your mom is like me, she’s usually too tired or too busy to clean her spades and shovels, let alone get them sharpened. You can take them to your local hardware store for sharpening and cleaning, or do it yourself.

11. A Special Photo – I can never have enough photos of me with my children. I love the ones that show me with them when they were babies, next to another photo of me with them as their now-adult selves. Almost any photo works – funny, poignant, surprising. Print out a photo on your computer or at a place like CVS, then hit the local vintage store for the perfect frame. That’s a winner – guaranteed!

12. Books From a Little Free Library – Many neighborhoods, including mine, have sprouted “Little Free Libraries.” They’re weatherproof, enclosed cases where people leave books so others can take them and read them at no cost. They’ve become a smart way to recycle books you no longer need to keep around – and an equally smart way to find gifts for people without needing to lay out any cash.

13. Tickets to An Event or Certificates to Redeem – If you are going to spend some money, buy tickets to an event or performance of some sort. Baseball games, the movies, a concert, a theater performance, choose whatever you think your mom would most enjoy. Ideally, get tickets to something the two of you (or you and your siblings or extended family) can enjoy together. Alternatively, give her a gift certificate for a mani/pedi, facial, or another service designed to pamper her!

By the way, don’t miss our other Mother’s Day posts!

Want to Give Mom Flowers? Choose These.

If You Get Flowers for Mother’s Day, Here’s How to Make Them Last

A Mother’s Day Question: What Do You Have in Common With Your Daughter…and Your Own Mother?

The post 13 Mostly Free Mother’s Day Gifts Mom – And Mother Earth – Will Love! appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Have you thought about how to encourage charitable giving for your wedding, or perhaps the wedding of one of your kids? You’re not alone. Many couples, particularly those who have already established a home, are choosing to direct their loved ones’ generosity toward charitable organizations and causes.

I like this approach for several reasons. One is that it’s so “green” – couples can reduce the amount of “stuff” they get, which saves energy and natural resources and helps keep a lid on household clutter. But it’s also a great way to honor people or causes that mean the most to the marrying couple, and help them set the tone they want for their future together.

If philanthropy is a priority in your life together, why not incorporate it into your wedding?

The question is, How?

I asked Eileen R. Heisman, the CEO of National Philanthropic Trust, to provide some guidance. She recommends that first, you get clear on your own interest in philanthropy. Then, she offers 5 ways to encourage charitable giving at your wedding.

Why Giving is a Good Idea

“Giving is always a good idea. Studies show that helping others—including making charitable donations—has positive effects on happiness and social interactions. Including giving in your wedding can have an impact on you, your guests and the charities you’re supporting.”

Ask Yourself These Questions About Your Own Interest in Philanthropy

“Start by asking yourself these questions. You’ll get a sense of how philanthropy fits into your life—or your wedding:

• What causes do we feel passionate about as individuals and is there overlap in what we support?
• How much time and money do we want to set aside for philanthropy?
• Is legacy important to us and are the causes we choose something we hope our family will support in the future?

Answering those questions can help you narrow down a wide range of worthy causes and establish a framework for your philanthropy now and in the future.”

Find the Best Way to Give

“If you want to incorporate charity into your wedding, do it in a way that reflects your values and the future you hope to have together. Here are 5 ways to get started:

1) Register for charitable donations instead of a traditional registry. This is especially common for mature couples or those who have already established a home. There are a number of websites to help facilitate your guests’ charitable donations, like the SoKind Registry, the I Do Foundation or JustGive.org, or you can create an online registry where guests give directly to your chosen charities. Alternatively, ask guests to make a donation to a charity of their choice in recognition of your marriage.

2) Make a donation in lieu of favors. A charitable registry shows that a couple is philanthropically-minded, but a donation from the couple makes them philanthropically-active. Celebrate your guests or loved ones by making a gift in their honor. Include news of your charitable donation in your program, on your menu, or on a small sign where guests can see it.

3) Remember that your charitable acts don’t have to be financial. You can contact shelters or soup kitchens in your area about delivering leftover food from your party or wedding, or you can donate flowers from your celebration to hospitals or nursing homes. You can also donate any duplicate gifts or items you know you won’t use to local charity thrift stores—no one really needs four spatulas, anyway.

4) Use your honeymoon as a time to help others. There are companies, such as Cross Cultural Solutions or Globe Aware, that can plan trips for you. Some couples travel with charities (like Habitat for Humanity or the United Nations) while others find local organizations at their destination to support. No matter where you’re honeymooning—an exotic location or a local staycation—there is always a way to lend your time or talent to help others.

5) After the wedding, consider donating your wedding dress. There are a number of retail stores that accept used wedding dresses as donations and contribute the proceeds of the resale to local charities. Other organizations accept wedding dresses, suits, tuxedos and bridesmaid dresses that are then donated to couples facing financial hardship or terminal illnesses. Check out websites like Brides for a Cause or Brides Against Breast Cancer for more information and inspiring stories on donated dresses. You can also sell your own dress on sites like Once Wed and commit the proceeds to a charity of your choice.

When you find the right way to support your favorite causes, it will mean almost as much as finding the right person with whom to share your life. Best wishes!”

  Eileen R. Heisman is a nationally recognized expert on charitable and planned giving. She was among the first fundraising professionals to earn the distinguished ACFRE certification and was the recipient of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ 2014 Outstanding Fundraising Professional award. Since its founding in 1996, National Philanthropic Trust – one of the 25 largest grantmaking institutions in the US – has raised $5 billion in charitable contributions and made more than 111,000 grants totaling $2.5 billion to charities all over the world. NPT publishes the Donor Advised Fund Report annually.

The post 5 Ways to Encourage Charitable Giving for Your Wedding appeared first on Big Green Purse.

The registry is the brain child of the wonderful Center for a New American Dream, the same folks who have been inspiring people to simplify the holidays by focusing on what’s meaningful, not only on what can be bought. The So Kind Registry works in two ways. One, it encourages people to create their own non- or not-too commercial wish lists for things like music lessons, homemade dinners, museum memberships, babysitting help, or their favorite charities. Two, it allows gift givers to skip the mall and a bunch of “stuff” in favor of making gifts of time or donations to people who would really enjoy and value them. Like the idea but don’t know what to put on your registry? The website offers this handy list of gift ideas to get you thinking.

There’s no charge to use the Registry, though it would be additionally kind of you to make a donation to the Center to keep programs like this running. And by the way, you can use the registry for all kinds of events, including weddings, birthdays, baptisms or bar mitzvahs, housewarmings and more.

If you make your own registry, let us know. Your actions will inspire us all. Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment for sponsoring this post.

GREEN CHRISTMAS SUPPLIES

By the way, if you do need a few green Christmas supplies, like lights, recycled wrapping paper, or beeswax candles, please check out our Amazon store. We’ve tried to whittle down what’s available on Amazon to make it easier to buy the greenest products and services available for what you do need. We receive a tiny commission on anything you purchase in our store, which helps us continue to bring you our expert content for free. Thanks.

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The post Use the ‘So Kind’ Gift Registry to Simplify the Holidays appeared first on Big Green Purse.

As a mom myself, I love the attention I get on Mother’s Day. Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by family, showered with love, and coddled with breakfast in bed, a luxurious morning just reading the paper, and no rushing around to do chores?

But as the founder of Big Green Purse, where I advocate using consumer clout to change the world, I consider Mother’s Day a tremendous opportunity – not to buy a lot of stuff, but to take a stand against excessive consumerism and in favor of the products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit.

DOES YOUR MOM REALLY NEED MORE STUFF?

One of the most powerful and eco ways to use your money is to keep it in your purse or pocket! Most people have enough “stuff” – in fact, many of us are so overwhelmed by clutter that it adds to the stress of managing our households when we get more things we have to find a place for.

Years ago, when our two children were still toddlers, we established a “no gifts on Mother’s Day” rule (we do the same thing on Father’s Day). I truly appreciate my kids’ desire to treat me special on Mother’s Day, but for me that means that we have brunch or dinner together, maybe go for a hike or have some other family outing, and tell funny stories about my most memorable/ridiculous “mom moments.” When my son and daughter were in elementary and middle school, Mother’s Day was also a “no bickering” day. There was no better gift than the 24 conflict-free hours they gave me that one day of the year!

Now that my “kids” are young adults (seen above, with me in the middle in case you can’t tell who the 20 somethings are!), we continue to enjoy this same tradition (well, minus the “no bickering” rule, since they don’t bicker much any more). We will have a relaxing day, enjoy dinner together, and tell “mom  stories.” Simple, sweet, and definitely not stressful. I can’t imagine anything better.

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE A GIFT, CHOOSE THE GREENEST OPTION

Still, there are millions of people who can’t NOT give a gift on Mother’s Day. And there are plenty of moms who want to receive an actual present. According to the same National Retail Federation survey, two of the most common gifts given this Sunday will be electronics, and flowers.

ELECTRONICS

If you’re giving electronics, check this valuable Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics before you buy. The Guide evaluates leading consumer electronics companies based on their commitment and progress in three environmental areas: Energy and Climate, Greener Products, and Sustainable Operations. The Guide scores companies on overall policies and practices – not on specific products – to provide consumers with a snapshot of the sustainability of the largest electronics companies, looking at the way companies use (or phase out) toxic chemicals, save energy, promote recycling, and help reduce climate change.The Guide does not endorse one company over another.

The most recent Guide was published in November 2012. The Indian company Wipro ranks highest in all categories; the way this business operates provides a useful point of comparison to the other companies Greenpeace evaluated. Wipro may not be easily available at Best Buy or other stores where you shop – but HP, the next highest ranking manufacturer, is.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to buy new. “The most sustainable devices are the ones you don’t actually buy,” notes Greenpeace. “Work to extend the life of your existing electronic gadgets, buy used products, and purchase what you truly need.”

Recycle as part of your present to Mom

Whether you buy new or used, recycle Mom’s old equipment as part of your present to her. Discarded electronics are the fastest growing segment of the waste stream, but they add more than metal trash to the garbage. Most electronics contain circuits made from heavy metals that can contaminate the groundwater and soil. You can recycle pretty much any phone, tablet, monitor, hard drive, laptop, and fax machine at Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot.

For other convenient recycling options, this list will make it easy for you.

FLOWERS

I’m a sucker for beautiful bouquets of cut flowers. But I’ve learned to value flowers that are locally grown and seasonal over blooms that have been imported from abroad. Why?

Seventy percent of U.S. flowers are imported from Latin America, where growers in Columbia, Ecuador and other countries use pesticides that have long been banned in the U.S. A 2002 survey of 8,000 Colombian flower workers revealed exposure to 25 carcinogenic or highly toxic pesticides that are not used in the United States.

Often, women flower growers suffer impaired vision, asthma, and miscarriage or give birth to babies marked by lower birth weights and higher blood pressure. Thirty-five out of 72 Ecuadoran children tested by the Harvard School of Public Health experienced organophosphate pesticides in the womb while their mothers grew flowers. These children later suffered both higher blood pressure and poorer spatial ability than kids who escaped prenatal exposures. Overall, according to a study by the International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF), two-thirds of Colombian and Ecuadorian flower workers suffer work-related health problems ranging from impaired vision and neurological problems Some women give birth to stillborn infants, or see their children die within a month after birth.

Meanwhile, the International Labor Organization estimates that 20 percent of flower workers in Ecuador are children, who are more vulnerable to chemical hazards than adults because their immune systems and vital organs are still immature. According to Environmental News Network, imported roses can contain as much as 50 times the amount of pesticides that are legally allowed on the food we eat. The U.S. requires imported flowers to be bug-free, but unlike edible fruits and vegetables they are not tested for chemical residues. So even if you’re not growing these flowers yourselves, you may still be bringing the chemicals used on them into your home.

If you have the option, buy flowers that are locally grown by American farmers who must obey U.S. regulations about pesticide use and application.

If you prefer to order flowers online, shop at Organic Bouquet, whose EcoBloom Certified roses will also be delivered with free bars of Endangered Species chocolate.

California Organic Flowers offers another online option. Stores like Whole Foods, food coops, natural food stores, and conventional grocery stores that have made a commitment to going green may also carry organically grown buds. If you don’t see them, ask for them.

DIY

You can also make a beautiful bouquet to give to Mom yourself. Even if the flowers haven’t started blooming in your part of the country yet, take a pair of clippers out to the yard and snip off a variety of different kinds of leaves. Mix light and dark greens, oval leaves with those that are spiky, long fronds with shorter sprouts. Place them in a tall vase, if you have it, or wrap a juice bottle with a decorative towel and ribbon to make a festive container.

THREE LITTLE WORDS

Regardless of what you give, tell your Mom you love her. All else pales compared to the gift of telling Mom exactly what she wants to hear!

Happy Mother’s Day.

Related articles

Still Shopping for Mother’s Day? Stop.

If you get flowers for Mother’s Day, here’s how to make them last.

The post Mother’s Day: Shopping Spree or Shopping Shift? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

You’ve probably already received hundreds of tips on what you should do – and maybe they’re now a big mish-mash in your brain. Here are ten things you SHOULDN’T do. So don’t.

1) Don’t drive like a teenager, speeding up and slowing down and weaving in and out of traffic. Such aggressive driving can lower fuel efficiency by 33%. Accelerate gently and stay with the traffic to save gas and money.

2) Don’t use cleansers and personal care products that contain triclosan or other antibacterial agents. Public health officials worry that antibacterials (in cleansers, window cleaners, and soaps are causing us to become resistant to antibiotics. Use simple soap (like Dr. Bronner’s castile soap) and hot water for cleaning, and body soaps and lotions that do not say “antibacterial” or “fights germs” on the label.

3) Don’t go shopping without a list! According to the U,S. Department of Agriculture, people waste about 30% of their household food budgets buying groceries that eventually expire and have to be thrown out. Know what you want to buy before you hit the store aisles – you’ll buy less, buy more of what you’re likely to use, and reduce the impact your shopping has on the planet. Then put your list on your refrigerator so you don’t forget what’s inside.

4) Don’t leave the lights on when you leave the room. You could save as much as $100 a year in electricity costs by turning off a 100-watt lightbulb when you’re not using the light.

5) Don’t leave the computer on if you’re going to be gone longer than two hours. Don’t leave the monitor on if you’re going to be gone longer than 20 minutes. If you plug your electronics into an energy-saving power strip, you can reduce the energy they use by as much as 40%.

6) Don’t leave the water running when you brush your teeth. Turning off the tap when you brush your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water a day, 240 gallons a month, saving hundreds of dollars on your water bill each year.

7) Don’t buy “snack packs” that come wrapped in cardboard and plastic. Small individual packages use more energy and resources to manufacture and transfer, and are often twice as expensive as the same product sold in a larger bag or box.

8) Don’t use so much shampoo, soap, lotion, make-up, gel and perfume. More than 25% of all women and one of every hundred men use at least fifteen products daily, according to a survey of 2300 men and women, exposing people to hundreds of chemicals during the course of a day. Can you reduce the number of products you use by at least three?

9) Don’t buy anything new. Remember the 3 R’s of eco-friendly living? They begin with “reduce” (the other two are “re-use” and “recycle”). If you need to shop, start with EBay.com, Freecycle.org, the  neighbor’s yard sale, or the community vintage or thrift store.

10) Don’t sit at your computer all day. Get outdoors for at least an hour to remember why Mother Nature is worth protecting. Besides, if you’ve done all the other don’ts on this list, you deserve to take a break!

The post Don’t Do This on Earth Day! appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Your time!

* Give friends or family with small children at home a gift certificate for three hours of free babysitting they can redeem any time.

* For friends who like to garden, offer to help them weed in the spring.

* If you have particular electronics expertise, donate a few hours of training or support.

* Offer to make supper on a school night when parents can get frazzled and kids cranky if dinner’s not ready on time.

Pictures and memories

* Create a scrapbook of favorite memories or heirloom photos.

* Beautifully frame meaningful photographs.

* Make your own calendar illustrated with photos of family and friends.

* Take everyone to your favorite museum on its “free” night; organize a hike to a beautiful spot; get back to Nature — even in the winter — with an afternoon at your local botanic garden (if you get cold, dash into the greenhouse!)

Play games

* Invite friends and family to game night. Play your favorite game, pick up something new at the local thrift shop, or play charades for free. Set up game tables so you can have several games involving lots of people going on at once.

* Food and Games: Ask everyone to bring their favorite game along with their favorite dish. Play a game during appetizers, after the main course, and again after dessert.

The post Free (Mostly Eco) Holiday Gifts To Keep Your Christmas Green appeared first on Big Green Purse.

  The brainchild of Annie Leonard, an “activist who has spent the past 10 years traveling the globe fighting environmental threats,” the story tackles “all our stuff—where it comes from and where it goes when we throw it away.”

Listen closely, because Annie barely catches her breath as she reviews the life cycle costs of the products we use. From the extraction of natural resources to their production into iPods, shoes, dishwashers and cars, to their distribution, consumption and disposal, Annie examines how economic policies of the post-World War II era ushered in notions of “planned obsolescence” and “perceived obsolescence” —and how these notions are still driving much of the U.S. and global economies today.

Her three-fold message resonates completely with what you find time after time on Big Green Purse: you don’t need as much stuff as you may think you do; don’t buy stuff you don’t need; and make the stuff you buy matter.

The post The Story of Stuff appeared first on Big Green Purse.

That’s why on the Friday after Thanksgiving – November 23 – I’ll be joining  thousands of environmentalists, social activists and concerned citizens in as many as 65 countries who will hit the streets for a 24-hour consumer fast in celebration of the 15th annual Buy Nothing Day, a global cultural phenomenon that has been gaining momentum as the climate crisis drives average people to seek out greener alternatives to unrestrained consumption.

Says the nonprofit Adbusters, which launched the event, “Timed to coincide with one of the busiest shopping days on the US retail calendar, as well as the unofficial start of the international holiday shopping season, Buy Nothing Day has taken many shapes, from relaxed family outings, to free, non-commercial street parties, to politically charged public protests. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.”

In past years, notes Adbusters, street activists have proven particularly imaginative in their celebrations, bringing zombie marches, credit-card cut-ups, and shopaholic clinics to malls and public squares in an effort to expose the environmental and social consequences of First World over-consumption.

Kalle Lasn, the co-founder of the Adbusters Media Foundation, explains that “while most participants used to see the day simply as an escape from the marketing mind games and frantic consumerism that have come to characterize modern life, the focus has since shifted in light of the new political mood surrounding climate change.

“So much emphasis,” he notes, “has been placed on buying carbon offsets and compact fluorescent lightbulbs and hybrid cars that we are losing sight of the core cause of our environmental problems: we consume far too much.”

“Buy Nothing Day isn’t just about changing your routine for one day. It’s about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment. With over six billion people on the planet, it is the responsibility of the most affluent – the upper 20% that consumes 80% of the world’s resources – to set out on a new path.”

So how about it? DON’T use your purse on November 23. And if you’re so inclined, write in and let us know what you didn’t buy.

The post DON’T Use Your Purse November 23 appeared first on Big Green Purse.