It's the most wonderful time of the year, and what's more wonderful than saving money while also cutting down on waste?
In an Instagram Reel, The Earthling Co. (@theearthlingco) gives us tips on "how to make Thanksgiving … a little less trashy." And the advice extends far beyond turkey day. With these tips, you can celebrate in style all the way through the new year.
The Instagrammer begins by explaining that the holidays are the "trashiest" time of the year, as Americans throw away around 25 million tons of excess waste from Thanksgiving to New Year's.
The Earthling Co.'s first tip is a no-brainer. For all that holiday heavy lifting in the kitchen, the Instagrammer suggests using a silicone baking mat instead of aluminum foil.
Fork In The Road has done the math for us, and swapping to silicone just makes sense. Instead of constantly spending money on parchment paper or aluminum foil, you can make a one-time investment in a silicone mat and save money for the rest of your baking days.
Tip number two is equally thrifty. The Instagrammer recommends using the cookware you already have at home, rather than buying one-time aluminum pans or baking sheets. Not only is this less wasteful but it's also cheaper, which saves you more money for stocking stuffers and other holiday cheer. And if you don't have enough cookware, The Earthling Co. recommends buying some secondhand.
"[Go] to the Goodwill, where they have tons," she says.
The last — but certainly not least — tip is the easiest one of the bunch: Use your own dishes and silverware! Not only will these dishes look way better than a bunch of plastic and paper, but they're also a cheaper and less wasteful way to feed your holiday guests.
And if you're worried about the cleanup, don't be! Your dishwasher is the most economical and eco-friendly way to wash up after a celebration.
Instagrammers seemed to agree with The Earthling Co.'s tips.
"Yes! I love this!" one commenter wrote.
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