Problem: I have little money and less time for holiday shopping.

Solution: Give an honorary donation to charity on behalf of your friends and family.  This is really easy, fast, and budget friendly. 

Go online and finish your holiday "shopping" in about 30 minutes.  Here are some of my favorites:

• Make a $10 donation to Habitat for Humanity on behalf of someone special. You’re "helping families to break the cycle of poverty and build long-term financial security." Plus, with your $10 honorary gift, Habitat will send a card to the person in whose name you donated.  Save a stamp!  You can do this in 5 minutes.  Here's the link: https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/one/donate.aspx?link=271&source_code=DHQOQ1008W1BNG
• Shopping for an animal lover?  Make a holiday gift donation ($ amount of your choice) to the ASPCA and they will send an adorable holiday e-card to the person in whose name you donated.  Everybody loves a card with a picture of a puppy dressed as Santa.  You can do this in 5 minutes.  Here's the link: https://donate.aspca.org/donate/donations/website/website_holiday.aspx?PlacementID=2471542
• The Heifer Project lets you donate to "help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant."  This is especially fun because you get to chose the animal (or share of an animal) you want to donate, like rabbits, sheep, chicks, goats, ducks, water buffalo, or honeybees.  Heifer will either send a card in the mail to the person in whose name you donated, or you can print a card, or you can send an e-card describing the gift.  You can do this in 10 minutes.  Here's the link: https://secure1.heifer.org/gift-catalog.html?msource=magento 

Extra Credit:  Check to see if these charitable gifts are tax deductible, then print your receipts for tax time.

Free Gift with Purchase:  Giving to charity might improve your karma just in time for final exams!

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Wishlist

Not sure what to request this holiday season?  Let your friends and family know that you're interested in taking good care of yourself, and how they can help. 

• Gift subscription to audible.com, so you can listen to your favorite books on your ipod
• Rice cooker, so you can multitask while making healthy meals
• Massage gift certificate so you can undo the damage from sitting at your desk
• A balance ball so you can tone your core while sitting at your desk
• A month's supply of Emergen-C to keep you healthy and cheerful
• A year's supply of hand sanitizer
• A plant for your desk
• A supply of nuts, beans, brown rice, oatmeal, dark chocolate, and other nonperishable "superfoods"
• An air-pop popcorn maker so you can make popcorn (which is considered a healthy whole grain) without all the salt, preservatives, and artificial flavors that come in microwave popcorn
• Candles to set a cheerful mood or use for your Feng Shui makeovers
• Tabs, pens, folders, labels, binders, storage boxes, etc. to help you organize
• Stainless steel water bottles to remind you to stay hydrated
• Lavendar pillow spray to help you have sweet dreams
• An assortment of Green, Ginsing, and Chamomile teas
• A meditation cushion
• A Yoga mat
• A crock pot
• A beautiful journal
• A new 2012 Planner Pad to help you set goals and plan out each week
• Food storage containers (lots of them)
• A delivery of fresh flowers