I gotta say, this economy is making me approach the holiday season with more concern than usual. Battling crowds is one thing, but it feels like a particularly bad time to spend a ton of money

I’m not the only one who’s worried, and that’s why this year’s Yahoo! Green Gift Guide is chock full of gift ideas for any budget. We’ve got the Top 10 Green Gifts Under $30. But going beyond that, we put together ideas for ways you can make your own gifts and give gifts of experiences. Many of these ideas are free, and they also show that the holidays don’t always have to be about buying more stuff.

There are some great gift ideas for everyone on my list. At the risk of spoiling the surprise, Dad’s getting the business card holder made of a reused circuit board (for less than $20!). My sister with three kids gets the babysitting gift certificate or maybe the eco-friendly cleaning service. Her kids will get the do-it-yourself gum and candy kit and the Earthopoly game. For Mom, I’m thinking a cooking class or a driving monitor that tracks miles-per-gallon and gives tips on how to save gas. And for my wishlist, I’ve got my eye on this hot organic bamboo dress and the snazzy vegan heels.

The gifts are recommended by green experts, so you can feel confident they’re good for the planet. But they’re also really unique. I never thought about a rubber drum set or a coat rack made of wine bottles. Other items push the limits of “unique,” like an urban chicken coop – get fresh eggs right in your backyard! Or the oddest one yet – a bidet toilet seat that squirts water and blows warm air, all so you can avoid the resource use and waste of toilet paper.

The Green Gift Guide also has a ton of useful information beyond the gifts. The ideas for wrapping, decorating, and entertaining in an eco-friendly way also save money. And it answers those burning questions like, “Which is better, a real or a fake Christmas tree?”

So check it out. Every time I pull up the Green Gift Guide, my holiday anxiety goes down, and my hope goes up for a season of giving that makes both my family and my bank account happy.

Erin Carlson
Director, Yahoo! For Good