5 Gift Ideas to Simplify the Holidays

The Holidays can be an extremely stressful time of year, especially when it comes to gift buying. Why not think of alternative gifts to cut down on waste, support the environment, support free trade, or commemorate a loved one. Simply the holidays by considering these following gift ideas:

Honor a loved one

Why not consider planting a tree in memory of a loved one? Some local communities
allow people to plant trees in memory of a family member. If your community does not have a program like that, consider planting a tree or a number of trees through American Forests. American Forests is a non-profit organization whose vision is to have healthy forest ecosystems for every community. They have a program to plant living memorials in remembrance of a loved one http://www.americanforests.org/
Some other organizations that have a similar program are;
The National Arbor Day Foundation http://www.arborday.org/join/tictim/
Celebration Forest http://www.celebrationforest.com/
Friends of Trees http://www.friendsoftrees.org/commemorative_trees/index.php
Tree People http://treepeople.org/vfp.dll?OakTree~getPage~&PNPK=76
Tree Givers http://www.treegivers.com/?AID=319313&PID=1380503

Honor your roots

Discover your family's heritage at the Ellis Island Foundation http://www.ellisisland.org/
Search the passenger records immigration database and see where your relatives came from or hire a genealogist to do the work. Passenger records and ship manifests are available for purchase and make a wonderful gift for a family member. Also, you can honor your family by adding your family name or an individual name to the Immigrant Wall of Honor http://www.wallofhonor.org/.

Give a meaningful gift

Consider giving a meaningful gift to a loved one that will support families and children around the world. Heifer International works with communities to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Purchase a gift of a goat, llama, sheep, bees, or water buffalo so that one more family is on the road to self-reliance. You will receive a gift card
describing the generous contribution you have made in your loved ones name.
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/

Homemade Gifts

If you have an extremely tight budget or just want to make gifts, consider using your talents to make gifts. A homemade knit scarf, hat or mittens is something that would warm anyone's heart. If you are an artist, consider painting a portrait of your loved one, favorite pet, landscape favorite vacation spot, or scene from where you first were engaged. If you are a great photographer put together a calendar from all your best photos or meaningful photos for each month. If you are talented with editing together moving images, you could record oral history interviews of parents, and grandparents and put them together with photos or video for a wonderful gift. Use your talents to explore other homemade gifts, if you need more ideas check out the New American Dream Organization. The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. http://www.newdream.org/index.php

The White Elephant Gift

Is the prospect of driving to the malls and waiting in line sound like a hassle? You can avoid the mall altogether by re-gifting. If you have something lying around the house, which you received as a gift but never use, it may have a better life elsewhere. Perhaps you a have something that you will never use, but your aunt might like it then it is a great time to re-gift. It is better to put an item to use, than have it end up in a landfill. Think of it as recycling that benefits the environment and brings a smile to the recipient.