Presents with purpose

Get into the spirit of Christmas with these present ideas that will give a little back, as well as delighting friends and family

Christmas Pinterest boards would have us decked out in festive aprons, effortlessly pulling star-shaped cookies from the oven while Mariah warbles in the background and scented candles flicker on our tastefully decorated mantelpieces.

In reality, the kids are driving you mad with their Christmas wish lists, the workload at the office has ramped up, everyone at the mall seems to have forgotten how to park/be polite/smile, you can’t find a ham that feeds less than 40, and the to-do list is out of control. Presents for the in-laws, your kids’ teachers, the babysitter, the neighbour who always gives you a gift, Secret Santa at work, Secret Santa at your partner’s work – presents, presents and more presents. And… breathe.

If you’re starting to feel a little cranky about the rampant consumerism involved in Christmas, we’ve got some ideas on how to give and celebrate in ways that will continue to bring happiness long after the last of the ham has been devoured.