#49: Gifts That Give Back (Friday, December 7)

So after last week's Good Friday, I got some feedback that sometimes it's not feasible to grant a wish. Well, good news: there are other alternatives.

The Idea: Give gifts that give back. If you have to give a gift, why not give a green gift or a gift that helps to sustain the community? Some ideas:

• A compost bin
• A TerraPass
• Books for Global Volunteers
• Gifts that promote fair trade in emerging countries such as Haiti, Ethiopia, Ghana, etc.
• Eco-friendly gifts such as low-flow shower heads, books on renewable energy, etc.

The Cost: The cost of the gift you choose to send.

The Benefit: You'll be able to finish your holiday shopping and also fulfill your global responsibility by giving gifts that help those in emerging countries and also help our environment.

Testimonial: I gave a couple colleagues MAC Viva Glam lipsticks as a holiday stocking stuffer. I was able to support World AIDS Day and also do something for the holidays. And I'm sure my two purchases helped MAC AIDS Foundation raise 100 mil for AIDS charities this year. :)