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Gift Ideas
Do It Yourself | Give Experiences
Instead of Stuff | Donate In Someone's Name
Do It Yourself
 If you don't have a lot of cash but you do have some time, you can
save money by making homemade gifts that others will remember and appreciate
the most.
- Share your favorite music. Burn some mixes of
your favorite bands, make an album cover (cool pictures from
magazines work well), and you have a personalized gift.
- Give
the gift of… chores. Though chores
sound like a real bore, this gift is music to anyone's ears. Make
a coupon or certificate for babysitting, walking the dog, washing
the car, making dinner, shoveling snow, raking leaves, cleaning
the house, or whatever will make someone else happy.
- Create a photo album. Grab a camera
and show your relatives and friends a bit about your life. Give
the album a personal touch with captions or funny cutouts.
 Make handmade soap. All you need are three ingredients
to make handmade soap: soap molds, a tub of glycerin and some
scented oils. All are easy to find at craft stores. Melt the glycerin
in the microwave, mix with some scented oils, pour into the molds
and let them cool. You can make the soaps fancier by mixing oatmeal,
sparkles, soap coloring, or even a maple leaf from the back yard. - Everyone loves cookies. Make a batch
of your favorite cookies, place them in a big jar or tin, and
tie them up with some leftover ribbon or fabric. You can include
the recipe on the gift tag.
Send us your gift ideas!
Give Experiences Instead of Stuff
Everyone loves to do fun, exciting stuff, like going out to eat, watching
a movie, or trying that hand at snowboarding or bowling. Here are some
ideas for your friends and family that will brighten their day after
the holidays have ended:
- Dinner certificates
- Movie tickets
- A night
at the theater
- Sporting events
- Snowboarding pass
Donate In Someone Else's Name
- Give a donation to a local charity such as a soup kitchen or shelter
for battered women. For more ideas about different places to give,
call local churches, synagogues, or charitable organizations; or
for global opportunities contact Alternative
Gifts International at 1-800-842-2243.
 Read
our tips for having fun and reducing waste over the holiday
season.
Find
out what to look for while shopping.
Find
out how you can make a difference by buying differently all year.
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