Should You Give a Goat For Christmas?

sending a present like a goat is not always a cop out. I searched the Oxfam site for an appropriate gift for two members of my family who were both in the medical profession. I found "train a healthworker" which I know they will really appreciate. however I think this probably applies to older people who feel they have what they need. Im love buying presents for younger members of the family. Just gors to show that you can't generalise about most things!

The giver of presents has the right to enjoy buying and giving what they want to as they are spending their own money. I have received heartfelt thank you letters when I have given charity presents. The only person who clearly wasn't happy was a relative who I felt obliged to buy for. Her presents to me were absolute cheap unusable rubbish,(she has considerably more money than me), that caused offence to me each year. The year after I gave her a charity present I was given one by her and I was thrilled.

Buying appropriate presents for family & friends can be challenging and as the journalist says she takes her unwanted gifts to the Charity Shop. How will the giver feel about that? After buying for immediate family, I donate the remainder of money I would normally have spent to a local Children's Hospice. It was after listening to a report on the radio and learning that Hospices receive a miserly amount from the government and depend on charitable giving to enable them to function, that I support them in this way. So what better way to use my hard earned cash. Let's face it, after watching today a report on the plight of the 1990's Romanian Children there are endless ways of using our money beneficially. We are millionaires compared to some poor souls, and we are all free to use our money as we like. I'm certainly not looking for any praise or even thanks from anyone. But I can wish everyone a happy Christmas and it costs nothing

I work, for much of my time, in the "third world" "two thirds" world or whatever the current trendy word is to call it. These gifts work. They go to people who need it. They can transform life for a family If you think the givers are po faced and unimaginitave then that's your loss. If you'd really prefer these friends of yours to give you something you don't really need then tell them. Let them decide how to spend their money and accept anything they give you with good grace, but please don't give them any bah humbug. Its ungracious at best and utterly ignorant at worst. Geoff

I'd be happy. I wish everyone could just let each other know what charity they'd like supported instead of wasting money many don't have.

Me too - talk about unimaginative! My Nan got 'given' a goat last year and watching her try and act like it was what she'd always wanted was hysterical. Almost worth getting her one this year in fact...Harry

Completely agree with her. My sister buys me a random charity present every single year, what's that all about?