The gifts are purchased and you're feeling pretty good about holding the line on your holiday budget this year. But you still have one major Christmas chore to complete: the wrapping of the gifts.

It's a time-consuming venture, for certain. But it can also be expensive. And then there are the costs to the environment.

Last year, I wrote about how I used old maps, tattered sheet music and hand-sewn drawstring bags to wrap gifts. Click HERE to read about my frugal gift-wrapping ways and see photos of the finished projects. There's even a bow made out of expired coupons.

This year, I've got 10 more ideas for completely free gift wrap, which I found while browsing the virtual bulletin board Pinterest. (Click HERE if you'd like to access the links to these and other DIY gift-wrap projects.) All of these projects can be completed without spending a dime and they'll help you tread more lightly on the planet, a double play in my book.

You're on your own for the time involved.

One of my favorite ways to save at the grocery store is to use a coupon for $10 off a $50 order from Recyclebank.

That's a 20 percent savings with just one coupon. That's $10 you can spend on something else. Or $10 you can save.

Not familiar with Recyclebank?

I wrote about Recyclebank HERE around Earth Day, but it's worth a recap.

Recyclebank is a free online program that rewards members for pledging to be more environmentally aware.

Through a points system, Recyclebank members earn coupons, gift cards and merchandise from companies like Kashi, Harris Teeter and Home Depot.

A survey of the greenest U.S. cities shows that Raleigh is among the tops in the nation in offering eco-friendly services.

Staples is giving away reusable shopping bags through Wednesday, July 4.

Print a coupon and pick up your bag at the customer service desk. Or be eco-friendly and save a sheet of paper and your ink and show the coupon on your smartphone.

You can do your part for the environment -- and save a little cash -- with a Christmas light recyling program offered this week at CVS.

Get $3 off your purchase of select Merry Brite LED light sets when you bring in your used or broken incandescent light strings.

LED lights, which are priced from $9.99 to $19.99 each, are more expensive than the traditional incandescents but use less energy and will save you money on your electric bills.

CVS does not specify a limit on the trade-in program so if anyone tries this out, please report in!

Coffee lovers take note: Here's your chance to take a peek inside Larry's Beans eco-friendly coffee-roasting plant in Raleigh and sample Larry's fair-trade coffees.

And if the promise of free coffee isn't enough, there's also free food, live music and beer. 

If you're constantly trying to balance your teenager's expensive tastes with your tight budget, you might want to set aside some time this weekend for a consignment sale geared specifically for teens and tweens.

You'll save money buying used and you'll save 6.75 percent more because the sale coincides with the state's tax-free weekend.

Two Apex moms turned entrepreneurs are running the Teens Going Green consignment sale at the Cary Masonic Lodge at 1142 Southeast Maynard Road.

Duke University is giving out free local and regional bus passes to its employees and students.

The university is hoping the GoPass will reduce parking congestion on campus while also promoting a more eco-friendly way of life.

The GoPass allows for free unlimited rides on DATA, Triangle Transit, Capital Area Transit and C-Tran, the town of Cary's transit service. Click here for more information.

Duke officials are hopeful that if just 5 percent of eligible students and employees opt to ride the bus to campus, traffic will be reduced by as many as 2,000 vehicles per day.

There's a party in the works at second-hand stores across the Triangle this Saturday.

Bargain hunters are scheduled to descend en masse at their local thrift stores and flea markets wearing  "I <3 Thrifting" t-shirts.

All in the name of promoting thrift shopping as hip and eco-friendly.

Hey couponers, there's another new way to save money - no additional clipping required.

Launched nationwide in May, SavingStar offers monthly coupons that you can link to your grocery and drugstore cards through its website. Click here to join.

SavingStar coupons differ from traditional coupons in two major ways: they're paperless and they are NOT automatically deducted from your grocery order.