This weekend, as I sorted the holidays gifts I’ve been collecting and stashing around the house for the past six months, I realized with horror that I had several gaping holes in my Christmas list. Of course, if I had made a list to start with, I wouldn’t have this problem, but as it stands, I still need to procure gifts for pretty much everyone in my husband’s family, my siblings, and I had to find “a pony set” — the one thing my 4-year-old asked Santa to bring her.
Needless to say, I spent much of Sunday cruising the interwebs looking for last-minute gifts that I could feel good about giving — and that wouldn’t break the bank. Here’s what I found:
- Chickens ($5) and goats ($20) for a worthy cause from International Humanity Foundation. No shipping necessary. (A hat-tip to We Covet. )
- Yaks for Youth in Tibet $24 for a share of a yak. No shipping necessary.
- Natural paper journals ($20), a garden-inspired recycled button embroidered wall hanging ($30) and a pink button ring ($6) from vendors all right in my area thanks to Etsy.com’s Shop Local feature. No shipping necessary if you pick it up yourself from a vendor near you.
- Beautiful La Chamba cookware from Colombia. From stove or oven to table, most pieces are under $25. Lead and toxin free.
- Family and friends flying in for the holidays? Give them Terra Pass carbon credits or offset their carbon by planting trees in a forest in their name. Cost varies.
- Give the gift of sterile homebirth supplies ($20) or training for two birth attendents and two safe birth kits ($48) to benefit the women of sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. No shipping necessary.
- I admit it, I am a wash-and-reuse plastic bag nerd but I wasn’t before I had one of these. Gift someone for under $20. I’ve had mine for years.
- For the kids, Xeko Mission: Costa Rica ($29.99). Discover new ecosystems, protect the animals, have fun.
And there you have it. A little something for everyone to make this holiday season and little less slackerish.
Image credit: Re-View’s In-the-Pink button ring from her Etsy shop.