I like the idea discussed in this segment on NPR’s Morning Edition: try going 24 hours without buying anything. At the very least, it will raise your consciousness of how much you consume on a daily basis.

If you do venture out, be kind to the people you run into, especially the employees serving you at the checkout counter or in the aisles. They’re putting in a long day starting very early in the morning. They’re dealing with large numbers of holiday shoppers who are often aggressive or irate and who have very high expectations of the bargains they’ll find. I like to think that a smile, a patient attitude, a friendly or sympathetic comment, and use of “please” and “thank you” are things that cost nothing, but go a long way toward improving the experience for every one.