save money and save the Island by reducing, re-using and recycling: 1. Carry your own shopping bag to avoid retail plastic bags.

2. Give the gift of rechargeable batteries with a recharger.

3. Give gifts you can make yourself -- cookies in an attractive reusable basket.

4. Compost all the fallen needles from your tree.

5. Pack breakables in popcorn.

6. Use old pantyhose with a little rubbing alcohol to clean Christmas decorations that are dirty and dusty from last year. Pantyhose is especially good for cleaning Christmas candles as it is slightly abrasive but gentle.

7. Save used wrapping paper and ribbon and reuse next year by ironing the creases out of them.

8. Save Christmas cards and cut out the pictures to make next year's gift tags.

9. Pick up some extra blue recycling bags for all those recyclables such as drink cans and bottles.