The holiday season is an opportunity to slow down, to appreciate the year we’ve just had, and to spend time with family, chosen family, and friends. As you start to plan your holiday dinners or create new traditions, you may feel stressed or overwhelmed about staying true to your budget during this time of the year.

One gift-giving tradition that doesn’t need to continue throughout this holiday season is overspending on gifts that your friends and family probably don’t need. Giving someone a gift should come from a place of generosity, not lack. Giving gifts shouldn’t reinforce scarcity, so there's no reason to break the bank or dip too deep into your savings to express your affection and appreciation for your loved ones. Thankfully, there are sustainable and alternative gifting options that may be more energetically aligned with the spirit of giving.

We created an alternative gift guide to help put things into perspective, spark creativity, provide you with more sustainable alternatives, and be a voice that encourages you to be mindful this season.

Let’s take a closer look at some gift-giving alternatives for the holiday season.