One trait many holidays have in common is the pressure exerted by marketers and manufacturers to shop until you drop. People are encouraged to show caring by spending money on friends and family. Not only is money not analogous with love and care, it can be wasteful to your wallet and the environment. There are ways to enjoy the season — no matter what's being celebrated — and reduce the environmental impact, too.

The Holiday Season

The holiday season conjures up images of blinking lights, crowded shopping malls, and lots and lots of presents. The term usually refers to that stretch on the calendar between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day that includes a variety of different celebrations. It's a time of year that marks the viability of the economy. Forecasts for holiday shopping start in the fall, and data on how much shoppers spent ring in the New Year. But are shopping and spending really such a good idea?

The holidays bring families and friends together, but there is a lot of stress over excess spending, hectic schedules, and the potential to overindulge on just about everything. The holidays also generate a lot of waste. If you want to scale back, you don't need to change years of tradition, but a little cutting equals less environmental impact.

When looking at ways to simplify, consider starting with decorations. If your family purchases a Christmas tree, a living tree might be a good choice. Living trees can be purchased and planted when the holidays are over. Buying an artificial tree means it can be used over and over again. If you don't have a place to plant a living tree but want the authenticity of a real tree, make sure to recycle your cut tree.

When you put up ornaments, let the tree show. If some needles show after all the ornaments are hung, that's okay. Not every branch needs to be glittering and sparkly. If you need more ornaments, consider making them from recycled materials. There are tons of Web sites and library books with great ideas for ornaments, and if you remember to date your new ornaments, you can look back and reminisce every year.

When lighting up inside or out, lower-wattage lights can bring about the same glitter and gleam without the expense. Not only do smaller lights burn less electricity, they produce less heat, making them safer. Light-emitting diode (LED) holiday lights are new on the scene. They cost about $8 more than a standard strand but will last up to ten years and use less electricity. Remember to put your lights on a timer so they automatically shut off. Here's where a little procrastination can pay off — the later you wait to put them up, the less time they'll be using extra energy.

When it comes to partying, consider swapping cookies instead of gifts. If you plan a cookie exchange, have guests share stories about their recipes. Was it a hand-me-down from a beloved aunt or a brand-new recipe from an easy-cooking guide? Some hosts ask guests to bring a dozen cookies for each guest, but you can adjust the numbers as you like. Your flexibility and creativity as a host will foster a festive atmosphere for everyone.

Once the last present is unwrapped and the last guest leaves, it's time to clean up. Make sure to keep the reusable items like decorations and table settings. Pack them with newspaper and shredded junk mail. Keep any cards that can be used next year.

Halloween

It's a scary time of year filled with costumes and candy. The costume market has exploded as children and grownups dress like their favorite movie and television characters. But before splurging on a costume that may only be worn once, consider what's in the closet. See if there is anything that can be modified and mixed up to be used as a costume. Leftover 1980s clothes or an old sport coat can be the beginning of a retro-theme costume. Overalls and a plaid shirt can be the basis for a farm or scarecrow costume. A common theme for teens is dead anything — from a dead prom queen to a dead baseball player. All it takes is an old dress or uniform and some scissors and makeup. If your closets aren't serving up any costume ideas, visit a local consignment shop.

Whatever costume you use, however, be sure to keep it when the trick-or-treating is over. For kids, old costumes can be kept in dress-up bins and trunks. Grownups can mix and match or even swap costumes down the road.

Scary jack-o'-lanterns yield a lot of waste. Don't throw your pumpkin's guts away after you're done carving. Use the meat to make muffins or a pie; the seeds are delicious baked and salted for snacks. When the jack-o'-lan-tern has seen his last day, you can also toss him on the compost pile instead of throwing him to the curb.

This may sound cheap, but don't go overboard giving out candy. It's rare for kids to go home without candy spilling out of their buckets and bags. More candy given out means more candy bought, and the more candy bought means the more candy made and the more waste produced. Depending on how much trick-or-treating traffic you have, you may be stuck with leftovers. Consider donating candy to a shelter or keep it for another holiday down the road. If sealed well or frozen, candy can keep for months.