David Bach The Automatic Millionaire

Last year, I wrote a column about saving money over the holidays. While many of the tips I shared then stand the test of time, this year I thought it would be appropriate to write not just about ways to save some green, but also going green for the holiday season.

Pick up any newspaper or go to any news web site and you're bound to see stories about going green. Is it just a fad? No way. Our planet is in danger, and all the talk about being green is a good sign that we're finally realizing we need to start making changes to protect not only the earth, but the very future of our existence.

The time to start is now. This holiday season, start green traditions with your family and friends -- traditions in which lavish gifts, mountains of wrapping paper, and big post-holiday bills are out, and recycled decorations, gifts from the heart, and money in the bank are in.

Here are nine ways to make it happen:

1. Deck the halls with LEDs.

Keep your January utility bill from skyrocketing while doing the right thing for the environment. LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights use the same computer-chip technology that lights calculators and watches, making them super energy-efficient. In fact, they use up to 96 percent less energy than standard holiday lights.

LED lights can last an amazing 20 years, and check out the cost comparison: To use 10 sets of 100 conventional lights for 5 hours a day for a month, over 5 seasons, you can expect to pay $761.25. For the same number of LED lights over the same time period, you would spend only $7.61 in electricity. They cost slightly more than conventional lights, but you'll save a bundle on your utility bill.

Pick them up at your local home improvement store, or shop online and pay around $20 for two sets.

2. Give green gifts.

Pull out your holiday list and check it twice. Which gifts can you replace with a greener version? Think cashmere sweaters, natural beauty products, soy candles, and green jewelry made from recycled gold and silver. Skip a trip to the mall and shop online to save gas. Then save up to 25 percent with coupon codes for a variety of green gift stores posted on one of my favorite green sites, Ideal Bite.

For that person who has everything, many conservation groups have sponsorship programs, where you can "adopt" a particular species to help protect. These make excellent gifts, and help spread the word about protecting our planet's diversity. At the World Wildlife Fund's adoption center, you can choose from 80 different vulnerable species, including polar bears, sea turtles, wolves, and penguins.

Whenever you donate to a charity, be sure it's legitimate. Check them out first at Guidestar.org or Give.org. And save your receipt for your tax deduction!

3. Wrap with recyclables.

Over the holidays the amount of household garbage we generate increases 25 percent, from 4 million tons to 5 million tons per week. Saving and reusing gift-wrapping paper cuts down on waste and saves money. Be creative and wrap presents in the Sunday comics, maps, or brown paper grocery bags -- all at no additional cost.

If you must wrap your gifts with holiday paper, buy recycled at sites like Smith & Hawken, or buy reusable cloth bags at Lucky Crow, where you'll get more for your money since you can use gift bags again and again.

4. Make your greetings green.

The U.S. Postal Service will deliver 20 billion cards, letters, and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve this year. Nearly 300,000 trees will need to be harvested to produce all the holiday cards sold this season -- enough to fill a football field 10 stories high! That's not just a lot of paper, either -- think of all the resources used to move all that mail.

Save money, time, and trees by sending e-cards instead. There are dozens of web sites where you can send virtual cards for free. Check out Hallmark and American Greetings for starters.

If you're determined to mail traditional cards, opt for 100-percent recycled, which you can find at sites like Holiday Classics and Doodle Greetings. Better yet, order from a site like Cards for Causes, where the cards are made from recycled paper and 20 percent of the purchase price goes to the charity of your choice.

5. Decorate with nature.

The most beautiful, authentic, and eco-friendly decorations are right outside your front door -- for free.

Take the kids on a treasure hunt for pinecones, acorns, evergreen branches, and real holly. Visit craft sites for great ideas on how to turn your finds into some great "green" holiday trimmings.

6. Host an organic potluck dinner.

An organic potluck dinner party provides the perfect setting for an evening of food, fun, and celebration -- and it's easy on the wallet and environment, too. Ask each guest to bring a dish, but give them a challenge: Use as many locally grown organic ingredients as possible. Buying locally grown foods means that fewer resources were used to transport it to the market -- and it's fresher and healthier for you.

Let the green theme flow to your table setting by using sustainable tableware and serving plates, and decorating with your all-natural Christmas decorations from outdoors.

Don't throw away the leftovers, either. Instead, donate what you don't eat to your local food bank or homeless shelter. Special E is a unique green event-planning resource that "rescues" leftovers for a small fee. Visit them online.

7. Travel green.

The American Automobile Association estimates that 65 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles over the holidays. Ninety-one percent of the travel will be done by car.

If you're among the travelers, it's critical to make sure your car is tuned before you leave. A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires burns less gas, which means you'll get more miles for your money and emit less pollution into the air.

Try to pack lightly as well, since unnecessary cargo will create drag and lower your miles-per-gallon usage.

8. Go shopping in your closet.

Extend the green theme of "reduce, reuse, recycle" to your wardrobe this year. Do a holiday sweep of your closet to find the perfect outfit for the holiday office party. I'll bet you'll be surprised by what you find, and you can always dress it up with a new holiday scarf or tie.

If you really feel you have "nothing to wear," why not borrow or swap party clothes with a like-minded friend? Your colleagues will be none the wiser, and you'll get a new outfit that doesn't cost a dime.

9. Spend time, not money.

According to the National Retail Federation, the average American plans to spend $817 on holiday-related purchases this year. I can't help but think that much of that spending will be on things people don't need and can't afford. It doesn't have to be this way.

You don't have to fill your holidays with stuff. Instead, make the conscious decision to spend quality time with family and friends. Create meaningful experiences and memories to last a lifetime. And, of course, don't take for granted what makes it all possible -- this amazing planet we live on.