Give well, give to last.
It's one of those times of year where lots of my friends have birthdays close together, as well as it being Mothering Sunday this Sunday. But with so many presents to give and so little time how do you make sure that each is relevant to that person and from the heart ?! It's a topic I've written on before but for certain occasions so I thought I'd give a bit more of a general guide in the process behind thoughtful and ethical gifting.
With depleting world resources gifts can sometimes seem unimportant and frivolous. However, the gratification from both the giving and receiving can be beneficial and enriching, reminding someone of your love and care for them.
One of the most important parts of buying an ethical present is the question will it be used ? In order to answer yes you will need to be aware of the needs and tastes of the recipient. From this question I was able to decide on buying a cook book for one of my friends birthdays as it is somthing tangible which can be taken to university in September to both ensure they eat well and are reminded of our friendship.
Moreover, it's also important to think about the source of the present, for example if you're buying food can you buy a fairtrade alternative or even bake something yourself. For a friend of mine who hadn't told anyone her birthday was coming, despite the fact we were meeting up, I was able to quickly whip up a batch of biscuits as a little token and thank you for our friendship. Experiences themselves can also make great waste free alternatives to presents but these will be very subjective, differ greatly depending on the recipient.
Finally, its not just what you buy make or do that's the end of the gifting experience. The unwrapping is vitally important! Don't shy away from good old recyclable brown paper it may not look as pretty but can still look very classy with a reusable ribbon. If you and your friends were looking to be more sustainable together you could invest in fabric reusable wrapping paper and use it over traditional paper. No more cutting and sticking !!
Tasha xx
It's one of those times of year where lots of my friends have birthdays close together, as well as it being Mothering Sunday this Sunday. But with so many presents to give and so little time how do you make sure that each is relevant to that person and from the heart ?! It's a topic I've written on before but for certain occasions so I thought I'd give a bit more of a general guide in the process behind thoughtful and ethical gifting.
With depleting world resources gifts can sometimes seem unimportant and frivolous. However, the gratification from both the giving and receiving can be beneficial and enriching, reminding someone of your love and care for them.
One of the most important parts of buying an ethical present is the question will it be used ? In order to answer yes you will need to be aware of the needs and tastes of the recipient. From this question I was able to decide on buying a cook book for one of my friends birthdays as it is somthing tangible which can be taken to university in September to both ensure they eat well and are reminded of our friendship.
Moreover, it's also important to think about the source of the present, for example if you're buying food can you buy a fairtrade alternative or even bake something yourself. For a friend of mine who hadn't told anyone her birthday was coming, despite the fact we were meeting up, I was able to quickly whip up a batch of biscuits as a little token and thank you for our friendship. Experiences themselves can also make great waste free alternatives to presents but these will be very subjective, differ greatly depending on the recipient.
Finally, its not just what you buy make or do that's the end of the gifting experience. The unwrapping is vitally important! Don't shy away from good old recyclable brown paper it may not look as pretty but can still look very classy with a reusable ribbon. If you and your friends were looking to be more sustainable together you could invest in fabric reusable wrapping paper and use it over traditional paper. No more cutting and sticking !!
Tasha xx
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