Do you have friends and family on your list who have everything they want anyway? Then what is the point of buying a present they don’t want, need or like?

Not everybody wants to spend their hard earned money on unwanted christmas gifts. So more people are turning to meaningful gifts and cards for their seasonal giving.

Do you have difficulty buying gifts for people? Then look at my selection of the best gifts around that not only bring a smile to someone’s face, but also raise funds for worthwhile charities and projects in the UK and around the world!

Global Giving

The charity that gives global gifts from your donations. You can buy a virtual gift online by choosing from hundreds of grassroot projects and send them to your loved ones.

You can also choose a gift card, that way they can spend on projects they specifically want to support. Buy your gift from Global Giving.

RHS – Royal Horticultural Society

For green fingered gardeners a gift or subscription to the RHS charity will help them continue to fund their work in training the gardeners of the future. Buy annual membership as a gift for someone to use and enjoy throughout the year.

Or buy a pressie from one of their online shops. They have a fabulous range of books, dvds, plants and other gifts suitable for the festive season. Buy your gift from RHS.

Practical Presents

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Practical presents lets you buy a present that will become a practical solution to help people and communities across the globe.

Whether its a fluffy duck to provide eggs for families in India, water pumps for communities in Nepal or flood resistant homes for vulnerable groups in Bangladesh, your gift will last longer than Christmas Day. Buy your gift from Practical Presents.

Rockcard

A new type of greeting card is out and ready to buy online. Rockcard is a great way to send greetings to a music fan – and at the same time raise money for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity. They promote the use of music as therapy for individuals and groups who are challenged by disability, illness or injustice.

You get to choose the photo of the artist and then personalise the front and inside of the card to read whatever message you want. Buy your card from RockCard.

British Red Cross

Create and send your own virtual British Red Cross parcel to help those people in need. They may be on the other side of the world or just around the corner.

Items you can put in your parcel start at just over £1 so no matter what your budget you can buy a gift and make a difference.
Buy your gift from the British Red Cross.

A Meaningful Gift can make more than just one person smile – give one this year and spread the smiles!

I have found the latest range of designer beds for cats that would make the perfect present for cat lovers everywhere.

The KatKabin DezRez is a fantastic feline shaped shelter for cats that can be placed inside or out and will have any cat owner eager to get one!

The KatKabin is the ideal snug shelter for your kitty cats that will protect them from rain, wind and cold. Great for those cats that like to be out at all times of the day and night.

Now you’ve no need to worry about being out at work when it rains as they will now have a retreat to snuggle away into and sleep through the storm. It even comes with a range of accessories to make it extra cosy!

The KatKabin comes in a range of funky colours and is just as practical outdoors as it is inside your home.

I particularly like the Kabin in this seasonal colour.

Buy the KatKabin DezRez for £49.95 – your pampered pussy will love their cosy new bed.

This fantabulous book has over 34 poems, illustrations and colour photographs giving you a humourous insight into the mind of pets.

Even if you’re not a pet owner or animal lover, you’re bound to know someone who is and would love this as a gift!

The Pet Poets Club are giving away 10 copies of their bestselling Pet Poetry book. To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is answer the simple question on their competition page: Pet Poets Club Competition

This competition is now closed but find more at our Giftchooster Competitions page.

The Pet Poets Club book: Volume 1 contains over 34 poems from all your favourite animals: dogs, cats, birds, goldfish, mice and a whole host of other pets. Read about the trials and tribulations of Fifi the Showbiz Chihuahua or Pugsy Malone, The Dogfather.

It’s quirky, humourous and beautifully designed with a spectacular array of colour photographs and graphics. Amazingly over 13,000 copies of this book have been sold so far, making it one of the biggest selling poetry books of the last year!

These books will make the ideal christmas present for pet lovers of any age!

To enter the competition, all you have to do is answer a very easy question:

Step 1 – Answer this simple question

How many copies of the Pet Poets Club book have been sold over the past year?

(hint – you may be able to find the answer right here!)

This Competition has now ended but you will find more on our GiftChooser Competitions page.

Step 2 – Sign up for our FREE newsletter

(Don’t worry, you can unsubscribe at anytime)

About The Pet Poets Club

Enter the world of the Pet Poets Club, an exclusive club where you can discover the secret world of pets. Members of the club describe their hopes, dreams and fears through the medium of rhyme. This is then translated by Marc Todd in order for us humans to understand and appreciate it.

Thumper the Rabbit, Percy the Goldfish, Harold the hamster and Pretty Boy the Parrot are just a few of the Pet Poets Club members you will get to meet and learn the works of. And the head of the clan is The Dogfather – Pugsy Malone, hear one of his poems here:

Despite the exclusivity of the club it is entirely free for humans (and their pets!) to join and buy Pet Poets Club merchandise including calendars, christmas cards and t-shirts.

Join the Pet Poets Club

Discount Code

If you are unlucky enough not to win this fabulous competition or want more than one copy of the spectacular Pet Poets Club book as gifts for family and friends, we have a discount code which entitles all GiftChooser readers the chance to buy the book for half price – just £3.99 (plus £1 for P&P).

Simply enter the promotional code giftx808 when you order. Buy the Pet Poets Club Book.

Competition Rules

• The closing date is Friday 10th October 2008.
• All entries must reach us by 23:59 (11:59pm) on the closing date.
• Ten winners will be chosen at random from the correct entries.
• The winners will receive one copy of the book The Pet Poets Club: Volume 1.
• The competition applicant may only enter once.
• The competition is open to UK residents only.
• All entrants email addresses will be added to the Gift Chooser and Pet Poets Club newsletter list. If you do not wish for it to be added, please tell us in your email.
• No employees of Gift Chooser or Pet Poets Club may enter.
• The judges decision is final.
• Prizes may not be exchanged for cash or other goods.

If you are searching for a gift that’s more about giving why not adopt an animal? Not only is it a most unusual present for somebody, but your thoughtfulness means you’ll actively contribute to the conservation of these wild animals across the globe.

A perfect gift for true animal lovers or the person you know who has everything.

Maybe you know someone who just isn’t that materialistic and would much prefer a gift like this than a new tie or pair of earrings. If this is the case then look no further.

Charity gifts may seem all the rage at the moment, but isn’t it great to have the choice to help in some way and buy a gift at the same time? It certainly beats buying a £20 gift voucher.

Just think about it, this time next year they wouldn’t remember what you had bought them at all. Where as if they get to an animal adoption pack, it’d be something they will remember for years to come.

Choose from:

• The Cute & The Cuddly Collection: Dolphin, Badger, Otter and Owl
• The Fantastically Fierce Foursome: Tiger, Lion, Jaguar and Bear
• Big and Hunky Beasts: Whale, Rhino, Gorilla and Elephant
• Adorably Ugly Creatures: Turtle and Bat

My particular favourite is the ’Adorably Ugly’ Turtle

Although I know my friend would love this majestic tiger.

No matter which animal you choose, an adoption pack only costs £30 and the lucky recipient will get an adoption certificate, a picture, postcards, a gorgeous soft toy of your wild animal plus, an introduction pack about the charity and how their projects will help your chosen animal.

Tick 2 things off your list today:

• Do something good and feel great about yourself
• Buy the best present in the world for someone you love

Adopt an Animal at www.adoptwildflife.org

Buying gifts for your pet has always been the done thing, but for the past few years the range and quality of things you can buy for your four legged friends has grown massively.

So if it’s coming up to the day of your furry friends birthday – take a gander at the goodies available on PetPlanet, the biggest online pet shop in town.

Man’s best friend. What would you do without him? It’s only fair to spoil your best friend on their birthday and it’s very common to treat him or her to a new collar, bed or toy.

PetPlanet have a fantastic range of pet gifts to choose from that include treats to eat, funky fashion, stylish beds and a bit of bling.

My favourite 3 gifts include:

Baguette House

This quirky and rather kitsch novelty house is perfect for your small furry friends. The perfect size home for pet rats, gerbils, hamsters and mice. It’s comfy and lots of fun as they scoot in and out of the specially created holes.

Only £4.99 from PetPlanet for this fun house

Stylish Dog Bed

This gorgeous dog bed is the latest in style and luxury for your favourite pooch – and looks just like a sofa, so hopefully they’ll stay off your sofa.

£124.99 with free delivery from Pet Planet

Labyrinth Cat Tower

This cat tower is covered in a plush fabric and is the perfect activity centre for kitty. They can sit on top of the tower, use the pole as a scratching post and hide away in the little holes when a bit of peace and quiet is needed.

Buy for £24.99 from PetPlanet.co.uk

So when you make your yearly birthday lists, don’t forget to include your favourite furry friends in the list too – they’ll love whatever pet present you choose!

If you know a dog owner who has a birthday coming up or you feel they just deserve a little present to say ’Thanks’, how about this funky dog lead that comes complete with its own torch.

This snazzy lead and torch combination is perfect fro those crazy people who love walking their dogs late at night in the dark.

Just add a couple of AAA batteries and chocs away. They can pootle off with their pooch at anytime of the day or night and know they won’t get caught out if a street lamp stops working, or they wander into the dark woods at midnight.

It also means they won’t trip over any stray logs or bottles, and they can avoid any nasty things lurking on the pavement.

It’ll also prove useful to keep an eye on your dog if they decide to do a runner and hide, or do a mad dash – you know how quick they are.

This little gadget will really tickle them, because it is functional and practical – so you get the best of both worlds!

Just £12.95 from Love My Gift