{"id":20475,"date":"2025-09-17T16:18:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:18:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/?p=20475"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:18:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:18:39","slug":"shop-responsibly-this-holiday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/17\/shop-responsibly-this-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"Shop Responsibly This Holiday"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many, Christmas has become a commercial holiday.\u00a0 Instead of being a season of giving, we have bought into the media circus and it has become a season of greed and excess.\u00a0 This year tailor your shopping to be a bit more responsible in the items that you purchase.<\/p>\n

Shopping responsibly doesn\u2019t stop at spending frugally for what we need or want.\u00a0 It is also a matter of global implication.\u00a0 By that, we mean that we look at the people behind the products that we invest our monies into.<\/p>\n

For example, let\u2019s say that you wanted to buy a diamond ring for the wife this year.\u00a0 There are several jewelry stores in your area but which is the best one to use?\u00a0 One jewelry store may get their diamonds from a mine in South Africa that employs unsafe practices for workers or pays less than fair wages.\u00a0 By patronizing that store, you are condoning the practices by which they received their merchandise.<\/p>\n

Who would have ever thought that buying and selling would come to such a level, but it has.\u00a0 People who do not value human rights are counting on us to let our wants overshadow any responsibility we have to our enslaved brothers or the environment.\u00a0\u00a0Eco friendly<\/a>\u00a0groups work to inform us about what is going on in the world and how we can make a positive difference.<\/p>\n

The biggest way that can happen is through our shopping.\u00a0 We spend billions of dollars during the holiday season for gifts, decorations, and other things.\u00a0 Make the purchases mean something to someone besides just the recipient.<\/p>\n

Shopping responsibly leads to helping the environment.\u00a0 Purchase recycled wrapping paper, low energy lighting for Christmas trees, organic cotton for creating clothing, and recycled ornaments and decorations.\u00a0 This supports the\u00a0recycling<\/a>\u00a0industry.\u00a0 All paper that is recycled may not be suitable for paper bags in grocery stores, but it will make Christmas cards, gift tags, and wrapping paper.<\/p>\n

Visiting\u00a0fair trade<\/a>\u00a0merchants supports cooperatives and groups working in favor of oppressed and impoverished peoples in countries all over the world.\u00a0 These artisans use recycled goods and natural products like stone and coal to create ornaments, decorations, baskets, utensils, and more to be sold on the open market.<\/p>\n

Fair trade<\/a>\u00a0merchandise can be purchased at a variety of stores including Wal-Mart, Target, Harris Teeter grocery stores,\u00a0Whole Foods<\/a>\u00a0Market, and Costco.\u00a0 For a longer list of stores, go to www.transfairusa.org.\u00a0 Put in city and state or zip code to find merchants in your area who are\u00a0fair trade<\/a>\u00a0certified.<\/p>\n

Along those same lines, local merchants need your help and your patronage.\u00a0 Consider their wares when looking for\u00a0unique gifts<\/a>\u00a0and decorations this year.\u00a0 Visit local farmers markets, flea markets, and trade shows to see who the local artisans are.<\/p>\n

Save the planet and prevent waste but making informed choices this holiday season.\u00a0 In the process you will discover a world of new products you never knew existed.<\/p>\n

\"Shop<\/a>If you enjoy this post,\u00a0please share it using the buttons to your right >><\/strong>, or\u00a0email it to a friend<\/strong><\/a>, we’d really appreciate it! You can also\u00a0get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS<\/a>\u00a0– AND get a\u00a0free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n

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