How to have a really GOOD Christmas!

As if there wasn't enough to think about at Christmas time, trying to make responsible choices when buying your Christmas presents can throw many UK consumers into an ethical tailspin.

So how can you enjoy your Christmas - and your Christmas shopping - and still make the world a better place?

Well, it could be easier than you think. Here are our top tips for an ethical happy Christmas:

1) Searching for things online? Why not register for everyclick? An innovative alternative to other search engines, if you add CAFOD as your chosen charity, they'll donate to us every time you search. You find what you want, and get a warm glow that you're helping out, without any extra cost to you!

2) Something that has sentimental value beats a bought gift hands down. My husband’s family live overseas, and a few years ago I asked them all to send photos and messages for him, which I turned into a beautiful album for Christmas. Tough guy though he is, he shed a few tears on Christmas morning. Maybe there's a photo of your grandparents' wedding day you could copy and frame? Or even homemade biscuits in a pretty tin – make sure your ingredients are fairtrade!

3) Lots of big name brands including John Lewis, Marks and Spencers, Waitrose and other high street favourites give back when you buy from them. Give as you live allows you to do your usual online shopping, and usual search engines, but will donate to your favourite charity as you do so. Again, it’s at no extra cost to you, and CAFOD could get an extra Christmas present for each one you buy.

4) A small family heirloom you could pass on to a son or daughter would be an amazing Christmas present. Gifts like these say "I love you" loud and clear. And they don’t cost any extra, leaving you with money for the Christmas food shop. If you're feeling really flush, you could donate what you save to CAFOD's advent appeal and make sure children around the world get Christmas dinner this year too.

5) If you are buying presents, then looking for craftspeople at home and abroad is definitely the way forward. As well as supporting your local businesses, traidcraft has a superb collection of unusual, unique gifts. Look beyond the usual DVDs and gadgets, and buy something that will truly be treasured for a long time.

6) Edibles always make great Christmas gifts, and traidcraft is choc-full (pun intended) of gorgeous eats and drinks. For the commuter in your life, why not order some delicious fair-trade tea and coffee, and present them with a reusable travel cup or funky flask, to help them to a sparky new year? It’s a gift that gives again – they’ll save a bunch of money, make sure what they drink benefits the people who really need it, and do their bit for the world’s landfill sites.

7) And finally: If you really want to give a gift that keeps on giving, there’s our brilliant World Gifts range. A perennial favourite with people who have to buy for the person who has everything, these inspired Christmas gifts get help to those who really need it, while delivering a warm glow to your loved ones on Christmas morning. Spread the real message of Christmas this year, both at home and across the world.