I hate buying presents for people when I know they want for nothing. A lot of my friends with…read moredisposable incomes usually buy what they want when they see it making Christmas and birthday presents unnecessary. As a result, I've taken to buying gifts from Oxfam. Oxfam is a not-for-profit organisation who works with people from developing countries to overcome poverty. One of their strategies is to enable the villagers to use local resources to make products which are sold through Oxfam stores. These products include interesting musical instruments, chocolates, coffees, traditional art, jewellery and cookware. Profit from sales are returned to the villages to assist with development. They also have these fantastic gift ideas where you can buy a family in a developing country a goat, chicken or even mosquito nets. The gifts start at $10 and make a great Christmas card as well. This year I've purchased a gorgeous piglet for a mere $30 -a bargain in any currency. So the next time you're stuck on a present idea, forget the platter or scented candle. Head to Oxfam and buy someone a pig.

From the owner: Oxfam Shop is a passionate supporter of fair trade and deals on a fair trade basis with 60 fair…read moretrade organisations around the world, who support thousands of producers including Indigenous Australians. Through fair trade we are part of a global movement calling for an end to unfair trade practices. Fair trade empowers disadvantaged communities by paying them fair and stable prices for their work, helping them to gain the skills they need to develop their business, and giving them access to world markets.