Gift giving is really important for the giver and the receiver. Shopping can be overwhelming when there are a myriad of choices. Here are two really excellent ways to spend holiday dollars.
Kiva helps provide micro-loans to third-world businesses. What an excellent way to teach a young person about finance and charity. For the budding entrepreneur in your life, what a wonderful way to acquire business skills. Here is some recent media coverage that says it really well. I gave and received Kiva gift certificates this year.
Concerned about your carbon footprint? Consider a donation to the Climate Trust, which uses the money to fund tree planting or alternative energy projects world-wide. A year of carbon emissions for an average person can be offset by a $200 donation.
As the years go by, people who know and love me have given up on figuring out what I would like and resorted to gift cards. Using the power of my pocketbook to support programs I believe in is the best way to put those gifts to use.