Gifts to charity rather than Champagne, power tools

There was something about this story which resonated with Mack-line.

A new website lets people donate to charity the money they would have spent on say, that $US44.50 jersey from Gap, or the $US250,000 his and hers ICON aircraft that Neiman Marcus is selling this year.

BRAC USA, the American arm of a Bangladeshi development and aid organisation started the site - www.whatididnotbuy.org [1] - on Thursday two weeks ago.

By noon on Friday, 89 people had contributed about $US500 using the site, forgoing items such as a blender, Champagne and power tools.

"What we're trying to do is emphasise how much you could help accomplish with an amount of money that you might otherwise spend on something you or someone else might not really want or need."

BRAC USA president Susan Davis said.

Lucy Bernholz, a nonprofit and philanthropic consultant, was quoted online as seeing the site as a reaction to the growth of embedded giving in which companies promise to donate part of the proceeds from the sale of specific items.

Churches often exhort their members to curtail consumption during the holidays and instead spend more on the needy.

This year, Mack-line has received more email Christmas cards than the traditional snail mail varieties.

Treasury, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research and Microsoft New Zealand managing director Kevin Ackhurst are among the people sending electronic cards.

Some of those are using the savings to spend on charitable giving.

Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly sent a letter to say his organisation was encouraging members to give to charity this year.

Jennifer Buffett, president of the NoVo Foundation, one of BRAC's biggest supporters, told the New York Times the foundation had decided to use e-cards and donate the $US350 it spent on paper cards last year to support three teachers in southern Sudan.

The foundation's seven-member staff also decided instead of buying one another Secret Santa gifts, they would put money toward projects described on the new site.

Mrs Buffett, the daughter-in-law of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, said she was excited about the site.

So is Mack-line.

However, just a word of warning.

Symantec, the maker of Norton security products, said there had been no recession for retail spam.

The top 10 seasonal spam subject lines observed last week were:

(1) Sales receipt from Amazon.

(2) Sales order from walmart.com.

(3) Incredible sale for luxury goods.

(4) Re: what she wants for Christmas.

(5) Giver her luxury this holiday season.

(6) Bling yourself up this Christmas.

(7) Get the perfect gift for Christmas.

(8) Impress your friends this holiday season.

(9) Xmas online cookies.

(10) Time limited Christmas promotion.

If buying or donating online, please check the legitimacy of the site.

Merry Christmas.