"At least I'm keeping it out of a landfill," she said.

Children and teens are often the hardest to shop for because they often want electronics, licensed products or brand-name clothing that is likely made in China -- and that's OK.

"You don't have to be hard core about it," Mazzone said. "Just set a goal and try it in little amounts. Every little bit makes a difference."

For the brand-agnostic, clothing, accessories and jewelry are available in a variety of price points, thanks to a growing resurgence of interest in American-made fashion, Mazzone said. Most of it carries a higher price tag than foreign-made counterparts, but if you're going to splurge on a gift, there's no better time than holidays, Mazzone said. For budget-conscious shoppers, it could just mean spending the same amount as planned on fewer, more meaningful products.

"It's a matter of priorities and choosing quality over quantity," she said. "People didn't used to expect Santa to bring them five to 10 gifts under the tree. It might be more of an investment, but you could end up with fewer disposable products that'll be in your family for generations."