Festive online gift ideas

Apparently online sales are still doing quite well, despite the credit crunch. Anyway, rather than leave it to the last minute I thought I'd start my seasonal present research early this year while pretending to be working on Finextra implementing an RSS feed.

Having ruled out a flying car as too pricey, I always think - if in doubt - get 'em a whisk set or something for their pet.

Then again I might just donate what I was going to spend on unwanted gifts on something a little more worthwhile.

Maybe a donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee - or DEC. They are currently asking for online donations for the crisis in the Congo. DEC is a unique alliance of the UK's aid, corporate, public and broadcasting sectors. They distribute aid to the agencies best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need.

What was genuinely shocking to me when it was brought home to me last year was quite how little money could dramatically improve the lives of some people. While we're busily spending hundreds on the latest phone so we can email a photo of ourselves on the train, rather than have to shout "I'm on the train" down the phone - there are farmers out there who could turn around their productivity if they could afford a hoe. Yes. A hoe. Ten quid?

Or perhaps they need a safe water supply. We may get cross when Thames water or whoever digs the street up and cuts us off - but it's usually temporary. We generally don't have to walk miles to the nearest safe source.

I worry the downturn will impact on charitable giving. I hope not.

Every little helps. Hence sites like Goodgifts.org