Holiday Buying Guide 2008

Just what I needed! A crocodile! In the last few years, international development agencies have devised programs through which you can give a cow or sheep or seed to a family in need on behalf of someone else. Instead of a pair of socks or scented candle, your recipient has the knowledge they've indirectly given someone something really useful. In reality, though, you're not necessarily giving a cow/sheep/crocodile to another family; you're giving money to that community or organization to spend as it sees fit. Since the connection is at best tenuous, the folks at Oxfam America decided to make their gifts, well, a little more memorable. Hence the crocodile ($50). (Apparently crocs offer some ecological benefit.)

Oxfam America Unwrapped also offers a can of worms ($18), a house on stilts ($10,000) and an emergency toilet ($50). Imagine the joy on the faces of your loved ones when they open cards saying they've given someone an emergency toilet. We'll leave the appropriate greeting to write inside up to you...

—Belinda Luscombe