One of the coolest things about Thanksgiving? Unlike Halloween, it’s not about stuff. While Halloween wouldn’t be the same without candy, costumes, and décor, Thanksgiving celebrates giving thanks for what you already have. What a relief for your pocketbook and the planet. —treehugger

Of course, getting caught up in the “Black Friday” furor a few hours later somewhat defeats the purpose, so you might consider participating in Buy Nothing Day and avoiding the problems with parking. If you must shop, avoid doing so until you drop. Have a plan and shopping list before you embark will help.

Although it may be a little late to incorporate some of the tips in the following guides this Turkey day, most can be used throughout the holiday season.

• Alternative Consumer – Thanksgiving
• Environmental News Service – Tips For Greener, Less Costly Holidays
• How to Go Green – Planet Green

Some other tips for dealing with what may be the most important appliance this time of year, the refrigerator:

• Make your door seals and frame are clean to ensure that the door seals properly. If you close the door on a piece of paper and can slide it out easily e.g; with much less effort than it takes to the tear the paper; the seal may be worn out and need to be replaced. You can also checks your seals by disinfecting/deodorizing your refrigerator.
• Placing hot food in the fridge uses more energy, and can easily warm other items to temperatures which permit bacterial growth. Instead, leave food in its (metal) cooking vessel, and place this atop a baking rack to cool before stowing in the refrigerator.
• As always, use the energy-saving setting for all appliances, especially your refrigerator/freezer. Since air in your home is much drier in the winter, you really don’t need the automated defrost or “reduce exterior moisture” features.