My family had so much fun with this giving recycled gifts last year, I wanted to share the idea. Although my husband poked fun at my idea a little bit, calling them "garbage gifts," he was the first to ask if I’d be doing it again this year.

I have to admit that being environmentally-friendly was not my primary motivation in giving recycled gifts. Giving cheap gifts was. Although you ARE doing something good for the environment, you are doing something even BETTER for your budget.

Just what IS a recycled gift? In my definition, it is anything that has had a previous owner. It can be found at a garage sale, thrift store, on eBay, or even in your own basement. When I’m garage sale shopping in the summer, I’m always on the lookout for possible "garbage gifts."

Just what did I give? My brother-in-law got my a shirt of my husband’s that had had somehow mysteriously become too small for him. My mother got towels that no longer match my bathroom, but would look nice in hers. My niece got a bag of hand-me-down clothes from my daughter. The most I spent on a recycled gift was $7 on eBay. I found my brother a teddy bear; one just like the one he had as a child.

The gift wrap is a very important element in giving a recycled gift. I wrapped mine in brown paper bags. You may want to use twine for a ribbon. The tag is another fun thing. I found some clip art with the recycling symbol on it, and wrote, "Save the Planet - Give Recycled Gifts" on the tag.

While I do give new gifts to my family as well, the recycled gifts I give are sometimes more memorable. And definitely more fun to shop for!