A MUM has hit again at individuals who decide her for regifting presents and never forking out on her three youngsters at Christmas.
Hollie Barber, 29, stated individuals say “it is imply” however that does not cease her from shopping for secondhand garments and toys for Alexis, 10, Zachary, eight, and Nox, two.
Hollie Barber, 29, and her husband Josh Cottrell, 32, are solely gifting individuals with secondhand and regifted Christmas presents Credit score: PA Actual Life
The mum-of-three, who’s a mindfulness coach, together with her glass artist associate Josh Cottrell, 32, has been making eco-friendly way of life decisions at their house in Thornford, Dorset, since having her youngest little one in September 2018.
And this yr for Christmas, she is giving household and mates secondhand, do-it-yourself or regifted presents, wrapped in material, in addition to placing up adorned sticks as a substitute of a tree.
Additionally, as a substitute of utilizing conventional wrapping paper she is using a Japanese methodology referred to as furoshiki, which makes use of repurposed material.
She defined: “It’s very easy to do and there are pretty concepts on Instagram.
Her youngsters Alexis, 10, Zachary, eight, and Nox, two get secondhand toys and garments yr spherical, together with at ChristmasCredit score: PA Actual Life
As a substitute of utilizing conventional wrapping paper she is using a Japanese methodology referred to as furoshiki, which makes use of repurposed materialCredit score: PA Actual Life
“You may simply use no matter material you’ve got. For instance, I’ve used pashmina sort scarves – then embellished them with dried orange peel or fir from a tree as a ornament. I’ve additionally made tags from final yr’s Christmas playing cards.”
She stated: “I at all times come again to how I might really feel if I used to be given a regifted current and I would not really feel any completely different from getting a brand new one.
“It isn’t about gifting away one thing you do not like for the sake of it – you are still placing thought into it.”
In addition to breaking the taboo round regifting, Hollie hopes to normalise giving handmade presents like soaps, fudge and cookies.
She added: “This yr, many people both don’t wish to or can’t go into retailers anyway, so I hope I can encourage increasingly individuals to go for handmade items, or regifting, which is an effective strategy to declutter.”
Hollie began residing and eco way of life after turning into a mumCredit score: PA Actual Life
She even made a Christmas tree out of sticks this yr, as a substitute of utilizing an actual oneCredit score: PA Actual Life
She handmade all her decorations too, together with this wreathCredit score: PA Actual Life
In lieu of a basic fir, Hollie and her household have reduce up a stick into completely different sections, organized it in a tree form and kitted it out with conventional baubles she has owned for years.
They’ve additionally hung up a do-it-yourself wreath, and a few decorations they made themselves from outdated ribbons – saving them a fortune.
“It seems to be fantastic and we’re not ending a tree’s life,” she stated. “If you see all these bushes reduce down in backyard centres, it’s such a waste.”
It was having Nox that actually triggered her journey into sustainable residing, when she realised how a lot new stuff dad and mom of recent infants have been anticipated to purchase.
After her son was born, Hollie began utilizing reusable nappies and selecting up secondhand child garments.
After her son was born, Hollie began utilizing reusable nappies and selecting up secondhand child garmentsCredit score: PA Actual Life
The household made their very own introduction calendar which they will reuse subsequent yr Credit score: PA Actual Life
She defined: “I selected to make use of reusable fabric nappies and all the things else adopted go well with.
“I began getting secondhand clothes for Nox and that kicked off a unique approach of buying and residing for the remainder of us.”
Now, Hollie solely buys secondhand clothes for her household – after resolving to not purchase something new in 2020.
And she or he has additionally upcycled outdated items to provide them a brand new lease of life because of her stitching abilities.
“The kids solely get wood toys too, so we aren’t shopping for plastic. Normally, they may also be preloved,” she added.
She made Christmas decorations out of sticksCredit score: PA Actual Life
The children solely put on secondhand garments, with Hollie admitting that she did not purchase something new in 2020Credit score: PA Actual Life
In July this yr, Hollie determined to start out an Instagram problem, calling on individuals to have a plastic-free month.
And there have been 2,000 entries from individuals who took half, utilizing the hashtag #setmeplasticfree, to share suggestions and sources.
Hollie stated: “In actuality, it wasn’t potential for me to be solely plastic-free for the month, as a result of meals buying.
“However retaining observe of all of the plastic waste actually makes you realise how a lot of a problem it’s – and the way we do it mindlessly.”
Discovering the experiment a convincing success, she set herself one other aim – to have a zero-waste Christmas.
The couple dwell in in Thornford, Dorset, with their three youngstersCredit score: PA Actual Life
As soon as once more encouraging others to hitch in, she has, for the previous three weeks, been working an Instagram photograph problem.
She defined: “Me and one other account @earth_punk_mama, are working a photograph problem all month, asking individuals to become involved and share their concepts for the way to have a zero-waste and eco-friendly Christmas.
“The primary week, we centered on handmade issues, so a lot of individuals have been sharing their concepts for handmade items and decorations.
“Final week, the theme was secondhand, and this week is about meals and the way we are able to decrease our waste in that space.”
And Hollie stated she had been most impressed by contributors reusing sustainable rest room paper model Who Offers A Crap?’s packaging and inside tubes to create zero-waste Christmas crackers.
The household plan on having a zero-waste and eco-friendly ChristmasCredit score: PA Actual Life
Hollie urges individuals to not waste meals this Christmas and donate any leftoversCredit score: PA Actual Life
Following the information that almost all households will probably be unable to see one another at Christmas this yr, as a result of rising Covid-19 restrictions, Hollie suggested individuals to freeze, give away and donate extra meals, to avoid wasting meals wastage.
“The principle factor is donating it to meals banks,” she stated.
“Should you can, donate or regift it. Do not simply cook dinner all of it for the sake of it!”
She added: “There are additionally two apps I exploit and would actually suggest – Olio and Too Good To Go – the place you possibly can add your surplus meals for native assortment to different app customers.
“They may very well be such a invaluable useful resource for therefore many feeling overwhelmed by the additional meals and never capable of get to a meals financial institution.”
They made their very own play dough as a substitute of shopping for it newCredit score: PA Actual Life
Hollie wraps her presents in material, relatively than wrapping paperCredit score: PA Actual Life
And Hollie has even calculated that her eco and meat-free Christmas is costing her simply £80 – for the household’s full meal and all of the presents for her kids and family – nearly 99pc lower than the common Brit’s spend of £1,116 – together with £381.60 on presents alone.
Whereas Hollie admits that it isn’t sensible to dwell a totally waste-free life – particularly with three younger kids – she desires to encourage individuals to make small modifications that may add up and have an enormous cumulative affect on the planet.
She stated: “This time of yr is essentially the most wasteful.
“I don’t assume anybody can dwell fully zero waste however making small steps right here and there could make an enormous distinction.
“I wish to encourage individuals to make these small modifications, with out feeling overwhelmed.
“Each time you say no to a plastic bag in a store, each time you purchase one thing secondhand, you make that aware determination to dwell extra sustainably. All of it provides up.”
One other mum reveals how she’s only giving second-hand or homemade gifts & wrapping everything in newspaper – Christmas has price her simply £87.
And this mum shared how she got ALL her girl’s Christmas presents for just £20 & a FREE Barbie Dreamhouse.
In the meantime, a money-saving expert reveals how to save money on your last-minute Christmas shopping & replenish stockings without cost.
