Using Christmas Spending for Good

As I work on my Christmas Shopping List I keep thinking about sharing some information with you guys… A few years ago I saw a video that CHANGED  my life and the way I think about Christmas and shopping in general. The next year (last year) I saw a video that confirmed and strengthened that change… I wanted to share both of them here:

In the years since viewing the first video, I’ve been working on a system to use my Christmas spending for good… since my Christmas budget is already pretty low I’ve had to modify the idea of spending less/giving more, to spending the same/giving more.

Here’s how I’ve done it…

My sister-in-love and I have agreed to give family gifts that are experiences… they still cost, but the combined cost is less than buying each person a gift and it’s a gift that provides time together and not just more stuff to store. ;)

My other sister-in-love and I have agreed to give each other baked  goods and still give gifts to the little ones.

For the rest of my loved ones I try to find gifts that they would love that help others… fair trade items, or ministry/cause supporting purchases… here are some sites I use:

http://worldofgood.ebay.com/home

http://www.originalgood.com/

http://www.thirdworldcraft.com/

http://shop.thehungersite.com/store/site.do?siteId=220

http://www.amias.org/shop.html

http://www.bluedango.com/shop/

http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/home.php

http://www.sisshops.com/shop2/

http://www.globalexchangestore.org/

http://www.plowsharing.org/products.htm

http://www.womenforwomen.org/help-women/online-store-supporting-women.php

http://www.lovingafrica.com/

http://www.serrv.org/default.aspx

http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/products/default.aspx

http://www.partnersforjusttrade.org/ht/d/Store/pid/178

http://www.feedprojects.com/

http://www.globalgoodspartners.org/cart/store_index.cfm

http://www.second-world.com/sw/store.php

http://www.fairtradewinds.net/

http://www.worldcraftsvillage.com/productsbytype.asp?type=Home+D%E9cor

http://www.kingdom-ventures.com/

http://www.uncommongoods.com/

And here are some that supports Ministries (I LOVE that!):

http://heavenlytreasures.org/shop/

http://www.gofishretail.com/

http://www.edenchina.org/

http://www.nightlightinternational.com/

http://shop.africanteamministries.org/

https://store.creationontheweb.com/us/index.php?osCsid=291760881755073497d2a1a9931f94ec

http://store.compassion.com/

http://www.hands-of-hope.org/products.htm

http://www.rahabministriesthailand.com/page/Rahab_Bazaar

http://www.etsy.com/shop/wearethatfamily

http://africanhopecrafts.org/catalog/

http://147millionorphans.com/147-gear

http://www.christianfreedom.org/store/

Here’s a place to search Fair Trade companies by location and product:

http://www.fairtradefederation.org/

Another way to use Christmas Spending for Good is to shop at your regular sites through portals where an organization of your choice can receive a percentage of your purchase:

http://www.spendandgive.com/

(here’s one that supports persecuted Christians http://www.spendandgive.com/release/)

http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx

Something else I’ve implemented is to request a gift that helps others when someone asks me what I want for Christmas… I personally ask for Living Water (http://www.water.cc/store/christmas-gift-cards)… my FAVORITE charity.

Some GREAT gifts to choose from that give to others:

http://water.cc/

http://www.projectconcern.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Gifts_of_Life_catalog_A_unique_gift_catalog

http://www.compassion.com/default.htm

http://inspiredgifts.unicefusa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ig_homepage

http://www.christianchildrensfund.org/giftcatalog/giftcatalog.aspx

http://www.presentaid.org/

http://www.optinnow.org/connect/list?gclid=CKmH1rmlqpYCFQITswodZzeiyg

http://www.helpcurenow.org/site/c.nvI1IeNYJyE/b.4509327/k.93CA/Cure_a_Child/apps/s/search.asp

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10389%EF%BB%BF

http://www.operationsmile.org/

http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/PageNavigator/2010_2011_gift_catalog

I hope that helps you some as you do your Christmas Shopping! I can tell you I’ve REALLY enjoyed giving (and getting) gifts this way! And my loved ones seem to enjoy it, too.

Love,

♥ Michelle (aka SomeGirl)

P.S. If you have other sites to add to the list, please suggest them in the comment section below. :)

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