The Bite:
Be nicer. Exchange holiday wishlists, 'cuz unlike Santa, friends and fam can't always read your mind - and the last thing you (not to mention our ecosystems) need is more stuff you won't use.
Feel naughty returning gifts from friends and fam?
11.09.2007
Submitted by tmeronek on Fri, 11/09/2007 - 1:53am.
The Benefits:
- Getting gifts you actually want and avoiding awkward "Um, thanks" scenarios.
- More space. You won't have to store that [insert unusable gift] so that you can pull it out whenever [insert relative] comes over.
- Less energy waste. You can always donate gifts or return them, but driving to and from the store uses energy.
- Saving time. All of us have better things to do than wait in line to return a gift.
Personally Speaking:
Jenifer's family has exchanged wishlists all her life. She recommends specifying size, color, and any other variables to further minimize returns, with an addendum of things not to buy if you're feeling capricious.
Wanna Try:
- TheThingsIWant - free gift registry that lets you add wishlist items from any website; great for avoiding duplicate gifts.
- Amazon Wish List - another tried-and-true wishlist option.
- New American Dream - this nonprof's Alternative Gift Registry emphasizes eco-friendly gift-giving.
Cocktail Fact
The town of North Pole, AK (population 1,778 - mostly elves), is actually about 1,700 miles south of Earth's geographic north pole.
Bang For The Bite
If 10,000 Biters have to return one less gift to a nearby store, we'll avert the CO2 caused by driving from NYC to North Pole, AK, and back again six times.
Tips Like This
02.14.2007
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