When it comes to the holiday season, things can get overwhelming - and fast.
You’ve got a list of people you have to buy presents for, and it’s as long as your arm. Meanwhile, you’ve also got to shop for and create a range of dishes, clean the house and make sure everyone’s clean before the extended family arrive.
It’s a busy time, to say the least.
So what’s a conscientious type like you to do? You want to keep choosing Fair Trade items for your gifts and food, but it seems to take an extra chunk of time to find them. When you’re rushing in and out of stores, this extra time can feel like an age, so you’ve got a conundrum.
Today we’re going to give you a few tips to make preparing for the holiday season easy, while still being able to find Fair Trade items without destroying your schedule (or your bank account). These tips will save you plenty of time so you can focus on preparing for the imminent arrival of the hungry hordes!
1. Plan ahead.
Make a list of each person you have to buy for, then write out 1 or 2 quick ideas about what you think they would like to receive. Remember that gifts don’t have to be big and conspicuous - a small, well-chosen item can be just as precious as a grand gesture (if not more so).
2. The Internet is your friend.
Now that you’ve got your list, start searching online for Fair Trade options for each idea. Create a folder in your Bookmarks bar with each item you think might fit the bill, and nickname each site you save with the name of the person you’ve got in mind.
Once you’ve got some options for everyone, go back and decide which item is going to be the best value (and remember that value is not just about price - it’s also about quality, longevity and what will be the best fit for the receiver).
Do this early, so that anything your order online is delivered to you with plenty of time.
It might feel like this process takes a bit of time, but consider the time you spend otherwise: driving to the mall, fighting for a car space, walking around all the stores, standing in line at the checkout, and finally waiting in the queue to get out the parking lot! Online shopping takes all the hassle out of that process - and you can do it on the couch in your PJs.
3. Buy in bulk.
If you can, buy several items from the same online store. This will save on shipping, and you won’t have to wait around for multiple parcels to arrive when you’ve got better things to be doing.
4. Do the same for your food purchases.
Many supermarkets now offer online shopping too. Again, this makes it a breeze to get everything you need without the big fuss of going to do a big ‘holiday feast’ shop. You should be able to see online which products are Fair Trade, and the store may even have a Fair Trade section with everything in one place. You can get all your ingredients delivered right to your doorstep so that the preparation for the big events is nice and relaxed.
The most common Fair Trade items you’ll find in a supermarket are spices, sugar, coffee and tea, chocolate, fruit and vegetables. Meats are often ethically produced at local sources.
Easy as it is to forget, the holidays are just about being with your family, enjoying each other’s company and being present together.
So get all the logistics out of the way early so you can enjoy the festivities without any distractions.
To get you started, here are a few gift ideas:
For ladies: bags, scarves, necklaces
For gents: iPhone speaker, iPad speaker
For kids: fairy toys, monster toys