Getting frugal and creative ideas from The Give List

Posted by Ted McEnroe December 15, 2008 at 12:13 pm

This has been a little bit of an obsession of mine this holiday season – finding gift ideas that give something back – whether they are gifts to charity, microloans or other ways that your thoughts, sweat or cash can serve someone else this holiday season.

With that in mind, and recognizing that not everyone has a lot of money to spend this holiday season, a pair of bloggers came up with The Give List. They got people from all over the country to suggest gift ideas that cost little or no money but could make a big difference in the life of the recipient.

71 ideas in all, and there is still a possibility of a second list coming soon.

Among my favorite suggestions:

6. When people ask what you want for Christmas, ask them to give canned goods to a food pantry.

16. If you crochet or knit and have extra yarn sitting around, make winter scarves or gloves and donate to an nonprofit working with at-risk populations.

28. Do you live where it snows? Need a holiday gift for an elderly neighbor? Present them with a pledge to shovel their walk.

43. Make a personal pro bono commitment for 2009 to Food First to learn more about hunger and DO something. (ed note: Doesn’t have to be ‘Food First’, just find an organization and donate your time, especially in honor of someone who might not be able to.)

68. Create a wish list of your favorite arts organizations, and ask people to make donations in your name rather than buying you presents for the holidays.

You get the idea. There are a ton of things you can do – especially if you’re shopping for someone like me who doesn’t need a lot. I tell my family, “Want to get me something? Give somewhere. The organizations need it more than I do…” And we all have much more to offer than just money.

Check out the list at http://www.thegivelist.org/.