Buying presents and cards ethically and sensibly

[Paul mabbott]

There's an awful lot of waste at this time of year - of materials and money. I'm not going to persuade millions of people from wasting their money but I hope they'll do it sensibly and usefully.

1 Xmas cards: many people think they're doing good for the needy when they buy cahrity cards. In actual fact many sales are a ri-off. Many sellers pass only 1% of the cost on to the charity but even the "best" such as M&S only pass on 20%. So if you want to buy charity cards, buy them from the Charity!

2 The same applies to decorations and other stuff. There are, however, some organisations which give unfortunate people the chance to make decos and what have you - keeping them in work, often recycling materials and usually as cheap as anything you can get in John Lewis. For instance: Welcome

Any other ways to avoid rips-off and do something good for the World?

[tameblackbirds]

Very good point

[nightshade]

Only send cards to people you do not see often and do not be mean with the card, a little thoughtfulness means a lot.

[Sparklebug]

Hubby and I have given up with extravagant gifts etc. we no longer buy for adults only small kids. I don't send cards to local friends anymore, and I make the cards I send to family and distant friends. For each other (hubby and I) we now buy useful stuff. I've asked for renewed NT membership this year :-) And that's it.....cos really do we need all the xexexexe that people give us? Really really?

This year I saw a brill product in Lidl, It's a blank Calendar Pack, where you can slot photo's in each month, so that's what the family will be getting instead of a card. Sorry if I sound a bit Humbug, but Xmas gets my goat a bit.

[eeyore]

as my other hobby is woodturning and carpentry I make a lot of our xmas gifts for family and freinds, a made gift costs less and means more - and where possible I use either recovered wood, or timber from storm clearance so its eco freindly too

for example for the other halfs birthday I made her a quoridor set - the timber for which was recycled out of a mahogany sideboard I got on ebay for 6 quid (top scratched to bits, but the inside shelves were solid and planed up lovely - Ive also got the drawers and doors waiting for another project) , the playing pieces were turned out of offcuts from my bits box

I also turn xmas baubles and stuff, some of which we use amnd some of which get sold at craft fairs

[CharlieCreek]

Well not as skilled as eeyore, but cards here are hand made as I think they mean more.

Luckily I started life as an illustator so it's not a chore to do them.

As for christmas decorations, all our decorations we collect from the wild - cones and holly for natural decoration on the tree etc. A log from my woodland management work decorated naturaly for the yule log and Jayne makes straw christmas decorations.

Christmas just feels better that way.

[Gill Catton]

I tend to do christmas cards every other year and buy whatever I like the look of and just donate a tenner to charity which is probably better I figure! That way I am supporting an artist (because I like their work on the card) and a charity too!

Family tend to get made presents this year involving knitting and sloe gin though this year there will be a few bought things too mainly because I'm not as poor as I usually am!

[nightshade]

I find children are so difficult to buy for nowadays, they already have everything.
An impersonal book or gift token seems to do the trick, they alway buy books that I would not have looked twice at. A really good one to inspire children is "Collin's Complete British Wildlife".

[eeyore]

I dunno about that - young kids can get a lot of enjoyment out of decent wooden toys (like I can make), and people often dont think to get them those.

i'm going to be an uncle for the first time in march and i'm ridiculously exciterd about all the things i can make for "pipsqueak" when he/she arrives - the blizzards wooden toybooks are getting dusted down and my father in law and I are agreeing on who's going to make what. ( I get the complicated projects that require a full workshop)

For example when they are little older i'm going to make one of these ( apologies for the external image but it isnt mine so i cant load it to wab)

as made by a freind of mine on www.thewoodhaven.co.uk

[CharlieCreek]

Brilliant... less plastic, more traditional natural materials and a return to craftmanship and items that can last generations and be cherished. That is the only way to go in my opinion.