Holidays generate a lot of anticipation and involve a lot of decorating, meals, and energy use. As such, people tend to get so caught up in the festivities that they forget to be sustainable. Don’t get me wrong, holidays are amazing but there is life afterwards that can get pretty tough if you don’t find ways to save money during the holiday season. Responsible holiday shopping is as much fun with the added advantage of ensuring that you will continue living comfortably afterwards without feeling as if you lost all the money during this season. To exercise wisdom for this holiday season, here are five sustainable ways to save money while still enjoying the festive season:

Stay within a Budget

Budget both your money and time. After all, the earlier you shop for presents, decorations and other items necessary for the holiday season, the better the bargains and this can help you save some money. On the other hand, budgeting will help you see just how much you can spend. You can then go analyze your budget and cut the unnecessary expenditures to save even more. A budget is must to create long term saving solutions in the home.

Reuse and Repurpose

This is not only environmentally friendly but also saves money. For example you can use previous cards to cut out gift tags. You can also use old newspapers to wrap gifts, but decorate them in a creative way first. Other things that can be repurposed include old wine bottles as vases or lighting fixtures, glasses as candle holders and newspaper snowflakes to act as decorations. Reusing decorations and accessories that are still in good condition is also a sustainable way to save money.

Send e-cards

Know how to save some money and still be creative? Send e-cards. With e-cards, you can still catch up with family regardless of where they are. Show your creativity by creating personalized e-cards and save on postage money. E-cards are cheap and effective compared to physical cards.

Save Energy

Be sure and use solar power or switch to LED bulbs to save on energy. Be sure to buy string lights that do not use up as much energy in order to save power. The lesser amounts of energy you use during this holiday season will definitely lower your electric bill.

Choose Meaning over Glitz

The holiday seasons tend to emphasize the glitz in today’s world and can also highlight consumerism over meaning. Ensure your family knows that family, purpose and tradition always trumps the glitz and materialism. Cherish gestures and family as opposed to valuing expensive gifts. You will therefore gift more thoughtful and personalized items. Inexpensive gifts can mean a lot more with the added sustainable benefit of saving money!

The fact that organic sections are a feature in almost every supermarket, groceries, drug stores, and markets makes for a debate as to the advantages of organic foods and products. Chances are whenever you pick up an organic food or product, you are convinced that it has a better chance of improving your health. What about weight loss? Can organic solutions really help you lose weight? Going organic can actually increase your chance to lose weight. For you to lose weight, you need to practice healthy living which means you have to eat healthy nutritious foods. This is because organic foods contain better nutrients such as antioxidants and vitamins to match the calories.

While nonorganic foods especially fruits may seem bigger and hence more appealing, they have more calories than healthy nutrients as the nutritional value does not increase with the increase in size. Therefore, though you may be tempted to just focus on portion size on your weight loss, remember that what you eat counts just as much as, if not more than how much you eat. Besides, organic foods do not contain synthetic pesticides, chemicals, growth hormones and genetic engineering among other undesirables and hence aside from being nutritionally dense, they do not cause addiction cravings that lead you to eat more as over processed foods do. No more creeping to the fridge to satisfy a craving in the middle of the night then feeling guilty about it. Here are the three hottest solutions to losing weight:

These three organic foods are linked to weight loss. Vegetables and fruits are not only filling but are high in nutrients while low on calories. As such they are perfect addition to anyone looking to lose weight. Herbs and spices such as cinnamon, cumin, cayenne, ginger and turmeric not only add natural flavor to the food but also aid in helping you stick to a healthy diet not to mention also being superbly efficient in boosting metabolism and aiding in fat burning. These three organic super foods when combined are a source of nutrients, vitamins and fiber without added sugars, chemicals and sodium.

Antioxidants have many powerful functions such as balancing the body’s metabolism and increasing fat burning. Natural organic foods and beverages are rich in antioxidants. As such to facilitate weight loss, drink green tea and bone broth. The former is rich in antioxidants while the latter has lysine as well an agent that aids fat burning.

Adding protein to your diet is a great way to lose weight as its digestion process burns calories and boosts overall body metabolism. Protein also makes you full and less prone to high appetite and cravings. Choose organic protein such as organically sourced meat, fish and poultry, fresh beans, peas, eggs, and milk. Avoid processed meats and dairy as well as canned foods for a healthier outcome.

Have you been spending way too much on hair products, but still have not seen the desired results? Did you know that there are natural ways to get lustrous hair that won’t hurt your pocket or hair as these expensive products do? Homemade organic products that create lustrous hair do so because they are organic, and nourish the hair roots and scalps allowing healthy growth and shine to your hair without weighing it down with chemicals. Organic homemade product gives the hair much needed nutrients sourced from the individual natural ingredients that make up the final mixture or product. Here are homemade organic products sourced from your pantry that will create that lustrous hair that you crave.

Egg Treatment

Eggs are rich in protein and have vitamins and fat that helps condition and heal dry and brittle hair. You can use this treatment easily whisking up half a cup of egg and using the resulting mixture to coat clean damp hair. Leave the egg mixture for 20 minutes before rinsing it out with cold water. You will notice a world of difference!

Honey Conditioner

Do you have tough dry hair? No need to worry for your pantry holds a solution. Honey is a great homemade organic conditioner that closes the cuticles and adds softness and shine to your hair. Use the honey conditioner by simply applying three tablespoons of honey to your hair and leaving it on for half an hour before rinsing it out. You can also add a bit of olive oil or even plain yogurt.

Avocado Hair Mask

Avocados are great and healthy and hence make a great ingredient for a homemade organic hair mask. They contain monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E and the mask is powerful enough to strengthen dry, thin hair and stimulate growth. Mash the avocado and apply it to clean damp hair, cover with a plastic cap and let it sit for an hour before rinsing thoroughly and washing and shampooing normally.

Apple Cider Vinegar or Lemon Hair Rinse

These two products are great in restoring shine to dry and dull hair.  Lemon closes the scalp’s pores and removes excess oil from the hair making it bouncier and healthier. Use a lemon water mix in the lemon-water ratio 1:2. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) on the other hand is an excellent guard against dandruff and itchy scalps and also removes excess oil and is hence a great homemade organic hair rinsing product for shiny, bouncy, and clean hair. Apply organic ACV mixed with equal parts warm water, to your hair wait thirty minutes then rinse thoroughly.

Oil Hair Serums for Growth

Rather than spend large sums of money purchasing expensive hair serums, raid your pantry for oils and also, add some more organic ones to help in hair growth. Coconut oil is an excellent conditioner, organic extra virgin hair a natural moisturizer while oils such as castor oil, lavender essential oil, jojoba oil, rosemary oil and almond oil strengthen the hair, increase its shine and nourish it with every use. Try these tips at home and watch your hair grow as nature would have intended.

Global warming is real despite the many ways people try to ignore the gravity of the situation. The truth is, climate change is an issue that is affecting the USA and should be addressed much better than it has been in the past. For instance, did you now that not all Americans will suffer equally in the face of climate change? Some states may see benefits, others mild effects and yet others great effects of climate change will manifest in the years to come. Therefore we all need to realize exactly how each region might be affected by the climate change reality. These tragic after effects should spur people to be on the frontlines in the fight for the earth’s environment. 

According to researchers, climate change will in the coming years increase the frequency with which we experience extreme weather all around the world. Based on these studies researchers have identified which areas are likely to bear the brunt with the U.S.’s Southeast and Midwest areas identified as the areas where the results of this climate change could be most disastrous. Here are the five states in the United States that will be affected the most due to either position or lack of preparation:

The state which is one of the most exposed states when it comes to extreme heat, wildfire and drought has not done much in way of preparation for climate change. It has been awarded a grade F regarding preparedness which shows that its climate change policies, emergency management plans and vulnerability assessments are very poor.

This southern state is at risk from wildfire, heat waves, drought and coastal flooding and also has a poor rating for its preparedness meaning that it has no plans and policies that mitigate climate change risks.

Facing the climate change risk of inland flooding, drought and wildfires, this state has also done very little in way of planning for these future risks that could affect thousands of its inhabitants. The risks coupled with poor preparations, make Arkansas one of the states that will likely be affected the most by climate change.

Faced by the looming risks of drought, inland flooding and wildfires, which are predicted to get even worse with the passage of years, this state has poor preparedness adding it to the states at risk of disastrous effect of climate change.

This state has a glowing red target on its back for climate change. However, it has plans in place to mitigate current threats and hence, needs to explore plans that will make it better prepared for future climate change threats. A particular serious threat for Florida is coastal flooding with as many as three million already living in its coastal flood zone experiencing flooding due to the globalwarming crisis now, and that number is expected to get higher.

Every state needs to prepare and be ready to tackle the number one global crisis of our time. The planet and the next generation future is on the line. We all must act. 

Did you know that you can decorate your home organically? By adding organic designs and being innovative enough to invite nature into your home, you can make your indoor space breathtakingly beautiful with just organically or naturally sourced décor materials and items. And no, animal skin or fur rugs do not count! Organic indoor decorating makes the indoor spaces look relaxing and naturally beautiful. Here are five indoor organic decorating ideas to start you off:

There are many types of flowers, herbs and plants that’s can flourish indoors.  Adding them to your home brightens the atmosphere adding charm, and natural beauty and style to your space. It creates a pleasant environment as well because some houseplants are great in purifying the air making it fresh and free of toxins. To add to the natural beauty of such plants and flowers, you can ensure that the pots or planters that hold them are interesting artistic pieces that add an element of elegant style to your rooms. Indoor plants are often low maintenance and cheer up the indoors making them a great organic decorating idea.

Wood furniture naturally sourced is durable and add a rustic beauty to the indoors. A well-crafted stool, table or chair made of fine natural wood is not only useful but also, beautiful in the indoor setting. You can also polish up tree stumps to use as side tables. Natural wood is free from ornamentation but very appealing when in the house.

You can infuse every room in your house with nature’s finest décor pieces that can range from naturally shed feathers and deer antlers, using a branch as a closet rod, a Zen fountain in your study or office and natural prints on beddings and curtains, natural lighting through large windows, natural wood finishing, and wooden wall hangings among others.

Another way to decorate your indoors is by use of brick which you can use to create a backdrop in your living room, dining room or kitchen as well as use it as a focal point which draws attention not to mention satisfying the beholding eyes.

These items are organic elements that should be properly gathered and infuse a sense of nature into your indoor space brightening it up and giving it natural appeals.

Since natural resources are the main source of our daily needs, conserving them are very important. Additionally, there’s little evidence that the natural resources will last for much longer. Considering the regularity with which we consume these resources, there will eventually come a time when they will become scarce.

We can help maintain the ecological balance and reduce the meteoric exhaustion of biodiversity by conserving natural resources. One way to do that is recycling. Common items in our landfills include used rubber tires, junk mail, old bottles, and scrap cars. In sharp contrast to what most people believe, the resources required to manufacture these products are quickly being depleted. Fortunately there’s a solution for this in recycling.

In order to prevent new resources from being exploited, recycling allows all of the above-mentioned items to be used repeatedly. This helps in conserving natural resources such as timber, gas, oil, coal, minerals and water.

Recycling has another key benefit in regards to conservation of resources. Recycling allows more emphasis to be put on creating technology to utilize what already exists. This is the reason why programs where they can receive large quantities of recyclable material to convert into new items are being supported by a growing number of industries. 

Recycling also creates a significant amount of employment opportunities. According to a recent study, ten thousand tons of recycled waste creates more than thirty thousand jobs. This is significantly higher than the 600 jobs created by similar amounts of incinerated and land filled waste.

Recycling is a huge industry within itself even though most people think of it as an individual action.

The trash has to be sorted and shipped- off to the right places after the sorting out and depositing trash for recycling process. The growing recycling industry employs thousands of workers to do the job of sorting out and shipping trash for recycling. It most definitely creates more community jobs and provides stability to the entire process. It is our responsibility to make recyclable items available so that more jobs can be created.

So long are the days where consumers are just looking for the cheapest products. Consumers are more educated, more environmentally responsible and crave what we call ‘total value’. Total value includes products that deliver practical benefits like price and quality and negate buyer’s remorse by providing societal and environmental good.

These products also provide “tribal benefits” that help consumers feel connected to a larger community that shares their values. Brands that hit on all three categories and effectively communicate this will be rewarded with the loyalty of these consumers. 

Consumers across and all over the world are calling for brands to innovate saying they would purchase more socially and environmentally responsible products if only they performed better, reasonably priced and had more believable claims. 

From a corporate perspective this is an opportunity of a lifetime. The consumer is telling you what they want. Also, consumers are ready to do their part by believing that as a society, we need to consume less and work to improve the environment and society for the generations to come.

They believe that companies should address social and environmental issues like water, healthcare, and fair wages through their products, practices, and policies. They are also interested in lending their ideas, opinions, and experiences to help companies create better products and new solutions.

By better understanding the aspirations and actions of consumers, brands have the opportunity to rethink consumption, redefine value, and re-imagine a more sustainable future. The consumer’s desire to both shop for better products and help better the planet is clear. If businesses can pass on all the benefits of corporate sustainability to the consumer, there is a very good chance of increased sustainable consumption in the future.