I gave a big "FUCK YOU!" to corporations this year for Christmas...

[Guaranteed]

My girlfriend and I weren't too thrilled about shopping and spurring the economy and giving money to Repuke pieces of shit. So she mentioned this little non-profit artsy store downtown and we went and had a look. I wasn't thinking I'd be able to buy for everyone, there- especially the kids. We went there last night and had a look around.

We ended up spending $350. All non-profit, all to independant artists- sculptors, crafters of all kinds, even folks from Africa and South America who'd somehow managed to have their work imported. Extremely high quality stuff, too, and not too expensive. I feel better about these gifts than I've ever felt, as a whole.

We managed to cover almost everybody on the list. We're still going to end up at Toys R Us or something for a couple of funner things for my niece and nephew, but, man, that felt GREAT.

Keep your eyes open around town, folks. There are a lot of stores where people are really trying to do the right thing, and they don't make a lot of noise. They might just surprise you.

And FUCK Walmart. That's right, a-holes- $350 that you'll never see. :)

[alittlelark]

1. We do the KPFA Craft Fair.

Soo much cool stuff. For 3 years now we've gotten 90% of our gifts there.

[Guaranteed]

3. Right on...I'm out here in suburban/rural Illinois,

heavily Republican, I wasn't even expecting to find a place like this around. It was a Godsend. And, yeah, SO MUCH cool stuff.

[laheina]

6. I have a craftsy friend to help me

make presents this year. I'm not buying anything!

FU greedy corporate assholes!!

[movonne]

2. Here, here!!

[yardwork]

4. We've done this for years - and it feels great!

It's surprising what you can find at hand-crafted stores - including practical items.

We also have a "One World" store in our area. I think this is a Christian organization that pays a fair price for handcrafted items around the world. I've bought pottery and other items there for m-i-l, who is very picky. She loved them. She thought I bought them at a high priced boutique!

[Guaranteed]

5. HA!

Yeah, a couple of the REALLY nice things that we got were on the kind of expensive side, but everything else was either no more or even less than what you'd expect to pay anywhere else.

Non-profit.

[autorank]

7. Xmas spending off. Time to be civil.

My family sat down and we decided to actually be civil to each other for the entirety of 12/25/2004 and not one minute longer.

[Squeech]

15. Wow!

Greater love hath no man...

I certainly don't think I could do it.

[NVMojo]

8. very cool, thanks for the good suggestions. Feck the Repuke corps!

use the funnies to wrap your gifts and then tie with twine from the US Post Service. Screw repuke corporations whenever feasible!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. YOU ROCK!!!!

That is SO awesome!

I bought my husband something from Costco that he's been wanting and I got some awsome fabric from an independent fabric store and am sewing two blankets, one for him, one for me (VERY luxurious fabric!).

My daughter's gifts have mostly come from little independent places and amazon and we don't buy much for each other, anyway. It's more about being together.

Fuck corporations. They sure have been fucking us for a while.

[Turn CO Blue]

10. Agreed, starve the Beast...especially WalMart

Your idea about arts and crafts is a good one, and so much nicer than some cheesy "something" you'd get for $9.98 at WalMart.

My little family of four agreed that there will be NO SHOPPING of any kind on Friday. Not even groceries or gasoline.

[schultzee]

13. Good idea, no shopping Friday.

[TlalocW]

11. Ebay is my friend

I'm sure somewhere down the economic chain, the things I buy from there do deposit some change into corporations - like the "Philadelphia Eagles - Fuck the Rest" button I bought for a friend probably was made using materials bought somewhere, but it's like trickle-down economics in reverse so they only get a little bit.

Besides, I'm already done with my Christmas shopping except for family, which can never be done before Christmas because that's when we draw names. I step inside a mall or toy store just once after Black Friday, and I'm done and filled with the Christmas spirit... or at the very least, freshly baked Christmas cookies, which can also be made into gifts really fast.

Last year, the gift I gave my mom came from a mall - specifically an independent kiosk in the mall. It was a handmade photo frame, and instead of squares and ovals and whatnot cut into the matte on the front, it was laser cut into the word, "Grandkids."

TlalocW

[schultzee]

12. Me and my hubby too! We make our gifts. F the corporate greed

PIGS. We even spend only on what is essential. F all of them.

[Guaranteed]

14. Kick for intolerable Muzak nt

[Earth_First]

16. Rochester, New York DU'ers:

Alternative Fair
Friday, December 3, 5-10pm
Saturday, December 4, 9-3pm
Unitarian Church
220 Winton Road South

Don't miss Metro Justice's 23rd Annual ALTERNATIVE FAIR, coming up in a few weeks, on Friday, December 3, 5-10 pm and Saturday, December 4, 9-3 pm at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 S. Winton Road. The Fair gives you an opportunity to purchase holiday gifts you can feel good about. It features hundreds of fair trade, earth friendly, and/or locally produced goods that support a just and sustainable world. Holiday shopping for the whole family, including clothing, toys, non-competitive games, pottery, and jewelry hand crafted by local artists, fairly traded imports, and more. In addition to vendors, the Fair offers food, musical entertainment, information tables on local non-profits, and an opportunity to gather in community with others who are concerned about positive social change.

Free child care, too!!

$3 for ages 12+, children under 12 free.

Questions, call Metro Justice at 325-2560

[AngryOldDem]

17. What a refreshing post! n/t

[Guaranteed]

21. It was great...give it a try! nt

[Phentex]

18. Nice to hear it!

I'm planning my shopping much in the same way.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. I did almost all my Christmas shopping in Japan this year

:-)

[Lovin_Liberia]

20. That sounds wonderful!

We have a little store here like that. You've just given me the idea to give it a go. I hadn't thought about it until now.

Being a lover of Africa and other foreign countries this would be perfect! :toast: