How to save money

Christmas: five tips for more sustainability

Less is often more - especially when it comes to gifts for children.(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

Christmas is also a celebration of consumption, but should not get out of hand in terms of sustainability. Styrian women provide ideas on how to make the holidays environmentally friendly (and cheaper): from candles made from rapeseed oil to gift wrapping made from newspaper and meat-free alternatives for the festive meal. Plus: Why a Christmas tree in a pot is worthwhile.

All too often, the Christmas season is associated with stress: "Rising prices and the pressure to organize the perfect party can become a burden," Petra Katzenschläger from SOS Children's Villages knows from experience. Beatrice Altendorfer, the woman behind "Sustainable in Graz", provides ideas on how families can avoid these worries: "For example, celebrate Christmas in a completely reduced way," she suggests.