A couple of others commented on it, but I wanted to really point that out.

Fair trade means you are supporting a business that is owned by the producers and directly sending money to impoverished people that need it.

Charity items means you are supporting a large corporation by giving them your money (say $5) and they give a charity a small part (say, 50 cents) so they can look good and get publicity – not to mention, they get your $4.50 that maybe you wouldn’t have spent otherwise!

Another way to look at it is:

Charity buying: Spend $10 = give company $9 and charity $1, and company will take credit for YOUR donation (**often, to cover up other unethical things they do**)

Fair trade: Spend $10 = give impoverished people working hard $10

Huuuuuuuge difference.

I don’t often buy goods that support charitable organizations because they’re usually not something I use or need. (Alas!) I’d rather make a straight donation.

Further because of varying standards in international regulations usually the products made here are superior. For example, it is illegal to use certain pesticides in the US when growing foods because they are shown to cause cancer. Yet, it is perfectly legal to use those same pesticides in countries like Mexico and then ship products back to the US that couldn’t legally be made here.

http://www.punjammies.com

Now, strictly speaking, I could have bought less expensive PJ’s but I LOVE these. The fact that they support an excellent cause was secondary. It did help me feel a little better about splurging on these though.

Generally, I don’t buy products because of the tie in to a charity. However, if it is a product I like anyway, the tie in might sway me if I am on the fence (as it did on the PJ’s). I am more likely to buy something that has a direct tie to a charity as opposed to one that is just donating a portion of proceeds.

You see so much of this in October. Buy this pink ribboned soup and we’ll give a nickel to breast cancer awareness funds. Or whatever.

Fair trade is a different animal. At least in that case you are influencing how the item is produced. Similarly with buying local. I don’t typically do either myself, but I can understand the argument for doing so.

Luckily for me, I’m not very brand loyal. So I get many health/beauty needs at Big Lots, Dollar Tree, or the major drugstores w/ “freebates”. I guess that leaves me more cash for donation.

A worthy topic for everyone to think about and find his/her own balance.

@Nicole: Newman’s Own rocks! Paul Newman was an incredibly generous man… a lot of it anonymously. He was the reason my brother was able to go to a special school for learning disabilities so keep buying that salad dressing!

I cut a check each month to an animal shelter in my town that I can visit (and have.)

Certainly not a perfect system, I realize, but it works for me.

But I’m going to buy a bottle of shampoo no matter what. I’ve tried many brands at many price points, and if I’ve found one that both works well for my hair and gives back, I see it as a bonus. (And I totally agree about fair-trade chocolate.)

@Pamela–Thanks for sharing the links!

I chose several years ago to avoid buying products made where labor laws don’t protect workers. I haven’t been 100% perfect but I’m pretty close. And it’s reduced my spending mightily. If I think I need something and find it’s made in China, I put it down and look for a substitute (fair trade, made in countries with good labor laws or used). Or decide I don’t need it after all.

And when you clothe 2 people on less than $100 a year buying used, you can afford to splurge on expensive organic underwear (something I’m not willing to buy used).

Some of my favorite fair trade companies: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/(gifts & housewares), http://www.saffronmarigold.com/(curtains & house linens), and http://www.rawganique.com/(underwear).

Um… I like Newman’s Own, but mainly because they taste good, not because they donate so much to charity. I guess I’m not a very good person in my consumption patterns. Fair trade chocolate also tends to taste better than the regular kind.