Gifts For a Recession

If you're avoiding the Black Friday crowds by starting your Christmas shopping online, remember that more overpriced stuff people don't need is even more ludicrously inappropriate than usual in these hard economic times.

Even if you can afford to keep giving everyone on your list the latest hyped gadget, consider that many of them may not be able to reciprocate.

One group of my friends decided this year to forego even small token gifts in favor of a holiday get-together at one home, with everyone contributing a dish.

Another group of friends started, at the suggestion of one of us, to make donations to charity in the name of each friend, trading an unappreciated thing for deeply appreciated help. Most large nonprofits with online donation forms allow you to donate in someone's name, and will send an acknowledgement to that person.

Yet a third group of friends includes someone who has been unemployed for more than six months and has cut spending to the bone. That group is exchanging "coupons" for expert time - home repairs, computer help, yard work, baby- house- or pet-sitting, almost anything one person needs done and another can do.

"Time coupons" that can be redeemed for chauffering to errands, appointments and shopping; or household organizing, or just a few hours of pleasant company are particularly appreciated by the elderly, disabled or housebound. And their caretakers.

Here are more ideas.

If You Must Buy Stuff, Buy Kentucky Stuff

The best gift this holiday is a gift to charity, but if you must buy stuff, buy Kentucky.

December is "Give a Gift Made in Kentucky Month." Find a list of stores carrying Kentucky-made gifts here.

You can't go wrong with genuine Kentucky bourbon, but there are other Kentucky-made comestibles under the Kentucky Proud label that make great gifts.

“Kentucky Proud products are made with care in Kentucky by Kentuckians,” Commissioner Farmer said. “When you buy Kentucky Proud for the holidays, your loved ones will find what you already know – nothing else comes close.”

The Kentucky Proud search engine is a free, easy-to-use way to start off your holiday shopping. The search engine enables consumers to search through about 1,300 Kentucky Proud members selling more than 18,000 products.

From the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Web site, www.kyagr.com, go to the “KY Proud” pull-down menu on the top right side of the home page. Click on “Find KY Proud Producers” and enter any combination of the company name, the county and the city to find Kentucky Proud producers. Or click on “Find KY Proud Products,” select one or more product categories and then select one or more product names. You can narrow your search to a specific county or city, or search for all products in a county or city.

Honor Abraham Lincoln's Bicentennial and save 20 percent on official merchandise fro the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Visit the KALBC online store and commemorate the Lincoln Bicentennial in style. Make your purchase before December 31, and receive 20 percent off a wide a wide variety of merchandise, including t-shirts and fleece jackets. Stocking stuffers, like Kentucky Lincoln Bicentennial golf balls, magnets, and coffee mugs, are also available. Visit www.kylincoln.org and click the t-shirt image on the right to make your purchase today!

The two-hundredth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth is February 12, 2009. Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase these items and showcase your pride in the commonwealth’s most celebrated native son, just in time for the Bicentennial. Order your official Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission merchandise today!

Save Yourself, Save the Economy, Save Others: Give More

Do you still have a job? A house? Health insurance? Enough to eat every day? Then you are, in this deteriorating economy, among the fortunate. And therefore at risk of karmic correction.

You don't need me or anyone else to tell you that the ranks of the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the unemployed grow daily. You're spending less this Christmas because of fear that you may soon be among their ranks.

But just as the Obama administration will be able to restore the economy only by spending to create jobs rather than slashing the budget, cutting your family spending is also counter-productive.

No, don't run out to Wal-mart to buy more useless plastic crap. Spend to help the economy, help others and help yourself: give more to charity.

I could be laid off soon, but despite that - no, because of that - I am increasing my charitable contributions this year. I also added a local food bank to the homeless shelter, rehab program, low-income housing, family planning and AIDS treatment already on my list.

And if you want to kill three birds with one stone, turn those contributions into holiday gifts. We've all got somebody we exchange gifts with every year, somebody who doesn't need any more crap, but to whom we want to express affection.

Give that person the gift of philanthropy. Most national and international charities have online forms for making contributions in someone else's name, and will send that person an acknowledgement.

But I'm sure if you sent a check to a local charity, with a note asking them to notify your friend that the contribution was made in their name, the charity would be happy to do so.

As you know if you've ever given to charity, not even the joy of getting the one thing you've wanted all year compares with the feeling you get from giving to others.

Besides, you don't want to spend your next life as a cockroach, do you?

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.