Cheap Christmas Gifts, Part 2
In my last post I talked about the approach I recommend for planning Christmas gifts. In this post I’ll talk about specific gift ideas. I’ve broken them down into categories to give an overview. My hope is that these broader categories spark other gift ideas, even if the few specific ones mentioned don’t work for you.
Please share! Post your comments with your own ideas—I’d love to hear some additional gift ideas and how you guys approach holiday buying.
CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
The truth is very few of us “need” anything. If you’d like to contribute to the growing counter-cultural trend of forsaking the traditional Christmas gift in lieu of making a charitable donations, here are some sites to get you started:
• FixMas.org
• BuyNothingChristmas.org
Although donating to charity in a person’s name is a noble way to spend money this Christmas, it doesn’t give the recipient a tangible gift to play with on Christmas morn’. If you decide to go this route, accompany your note with a pin, framed photo or other item that symbolizes your gift.
Example:
• Aids Pin
These pins are hand crafted by local Tanzanians from Arusha, Tanzania. You must order pins in batches of 10. The cost is $1.50 per pin plus shipping.
• If your family has recently lost someone to an illness, make a donation to a research organization in his/her name and give family members framed pictures of that loved one.
• If you’re giving to a social justice-oriented organization, find out if they offer any handmade items, like pins or other artisan crafts that your gift recipient can have to reflect on the gift made in his/her name.
Some social justice oriented sites:
• Blood:Water Mission
• AngelTree.org
• One
SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS GIFTS
Or, if you really want to give a tangible gift, but still want to help out a social justice org, buy fair trade products.
Example
• MadImports
Jet, $20
This handbag (from a company that’s a member of the Fair Trade Federation) was originally $59 and is on sale now for $20.
Example
• Global Exchange Fair Trade Store
Beehive Glass Beeswax Candle, $16.00
(You can add recycled gift packaging for $3.95)
Other fair trade sites:
I'll continue in my next post with more gift ideas in the categories of subscriptions, photo and print gifts, themed gifts and more!