Zero waste party ideas

Parties are fun, but if not planned properly, they can also be wasteful. Food might be served on disposable plates, and gift wraps and glittery cards might be glanced at once before being thrown away. However, there are easy ways to have a party without producing bags of trash.

What is zero waste? 
Zero waste is a movement that aims to send nothing to a landfill. As much as possible is avoided, re-used, composted, or recycled.

I'm not 100% zero waste, but I'm working to reduce what I throw away. The responses I get from people have been mixed--from eye rolls when I say "compostable," to "Wow, what's that? I should get some!" to my reusable silicone cupcake liners.

Supplies
Before you buy supplies for a party (like new dishes or kitchen utensils), check thrift stores first, or ask friends and family if there's stuff you can borrow. You can save money and packaging by re-using an item.

Ditch Disposables
You can reduce your use of disposables by bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and using real plates, cutlery, and forks. For times when it's necessary to go disposable (such as a large outdoor event), try compostable plates and cups. They’re available in most grocery stores.

Gifts and Cards
I've cut back on the amount of gifts I give. Many kids I know have bedrooms overflowing with toys. When I do give gifts, I tend to give something I know the person will appreciate, or stick with cash. I include a simple paper card (no plastic or glitter) and skip the wrapping paper.

Snacks
Skip the chips, and try cutting up your own veggies! Or, bake something deceptively simple, like sweet potato fries.

Dessert
When I was young, I learned to make my own cakes and desserts. A boxed mix and the assorted ingredients was $7 cheaper than store-bought--a huge deal for a kid in the early 2000s. I've branched out beyond boxed mixes and now make my own pies and other desserts from scratch--stuff you can't often find in a bakery.

However, I don't always have the time to whip up dessert before a big event (especially if I have multiple in a row). So if you get a cake from a bakery, bring your own container. You can wrap the leftovers in beeswax wrap (available in many zero waste stores) instead of plastic wrap, too.
You can also get sustainable birthday candles!

Photo by Brooke Lark at Unsplash

Five hobbies for minimalists

A lot of hobbies require stuff. Stuff costs money. Stuff has to be stored and organized.

But there are plenty of activities that don't require all that.

Writing
You don't need fancy software to start writing. A pen and paper, or a computer and Google Docs will suffice. Resources on how to write are available for free online and in libraries.

Reading
Many people don’t take advantage of libraries, but they offer free books (and other media, like DVDs). Check out Goodreads and Twitter for book recommendations.

Running
All you really need to start running is a safe location and a good pair of shoes. Search for online running forums for tips. Many cities have running groups that welcome beginners (check your local free newspapers). Some health insurance plans will reimburse race registration fees, too.

Volunteering
You can volunteer at animal shelter or soup kitchen, serve as a companion at a local senior center or nursing home, read to children at schools, volunteer at a museum docent ... the possibilities are really endless. I attended a dinner recently in which a woman told me she volunteered as an usher at a local community theater, and was able to see shows and concerts for free.

Baking
This is a personal favorite of mine. All you need are a few pantry staples (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, etc.) and a few pans (check out thrift stores for great deals, although you may already have a lot of what you need) and you can start baking bread, cakes, cookies, and pies. Allrecipes.com is a great place to start finding recipes. Bringing home-baked desserts to a party is a great way to save money, too.