Anticonsumption

For the kids in my family I am still getting them each a small gift but I’m also taking half of what I’ve budgeted for them for a donation.

But I’m (hopefully) going to make it fun. I’m researching non-profits where they live and I’m going to put together a paper with a list of them and their missions and website. I want each kid to pick the charity and write a letter (which I’m providing a template for so they can just fill it in) to tell the non-profit why they picked their charity. I’m also going to include a card that they can send it in and a stamped envelope to mail it.

My hope is that they can find some joy in picking a cause that means something to them and feel those good feels when you can help someone less fortunate.

And for the adults, my partner has a friend who roasts and grinds his own fair trade coffee so we bought a bunch of bags from him to give as gifts. It’s hyper local and won’t create waste but it’s also not your typical unhealthy fare like chocolates and baked goods (which are fine too, but I have a lot of family who are diet conscious so it’s a win from that perspective).