In the last 12 days of Christmas, why not use your buying power for the greater good! Here are 12 of H&G’s favourite presents with a charitable bent.

1. With fashion illustrations by the talented Kerrie Hess, Myer’s tote bags ($29.95) are a brilliant gift idea. Plus, $5 from the sale of each tote will be donated to the charity Look Good… Feel Better. >www.myer.com.au

2. The Spirit of Christmas CD ($19.95), featuring popular Australian artists performing a range of carols is another of Myer’s initiatives that helps to raise funds to support the Salvation Army’s programs. www.myer.com.au or it is available on iTunes for $16.99

3. This year, the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal for the Salvation Army celebrates 25 years of distributing tailored gifts to disadvantaged people. Visit your nearest Kmart store, select a gift tag from the tree detailing your recipient’s age and gender, find a present, wrap it and return it to the wishing tree with the gift tag attached! You’ll make someone smile come December 25! www.wishingtree.kmart.com.au

4. After Dinner Mints for Breakfast ($50) is a beautiful cookbook, compiled to raise money for a cause very close to the authors’ hearts. Proceeds from the book will be contributed to the Captain Courageous Foundation, which funds research into bone marrow failure disease. www.captaincourageousfoundation.com

5. If you favour a real Christmas tree why not make sure that your money is also supporting a good cause. RSPCA ACT will sell Christmas trees ($35 each) at Weston Creek centre from 8 December 2012.

6. Shop for everyone on your list at Koskela, Sydney, and have gifts wrapped in colourful hand printed paper. A gold coin donation for gift wrapping goes directly to the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation. www.koskela.com.au

7. Donating to the Australian Red Cross is a wonderful way to show you care, and with your support the Red Cross will be able to continue providing emotional and practical support to vulnerable people. What better time to spread the love and cheer? www.redcross.org.au

8. Food rescue charity, Oz Harvest, has released its first cookbook The OzHarvest Cookbook, $59.95. Top chefs (including Peter Gilmore and Neil Perry) share their secrets for using left overs. The proceeds from each book sold will provide 60 meals for those in need. Available in select David Jones stores and www.ozharvest.org

9. Buying chocolate to support a good cause is a win-win situation as far as I can see. Cadbury has partnered with Make-A-Wish Australia. The Cadbury Christmas Make-A-Wish range includes individual chocolates called Little Wishes ($1.50) and a Christmas stocking, advent calendars and gift box. www.cadbury.com.au

10. Oxfam Unwrapped is a witty way to present a donation gift. A favourite here at H&G is the Goat card, $39 (pictured). There are plenty of options in every price range… $10 helps a family in Laos breed more chickens for income, while $997 flies doctors into remote locations in Papua New Guinea. www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au

11. You can’t go wrong with jewellery… and Georg Jensen knows it. Their limited special edition of the infinity bracelet for Red Cross is available in Georg Jensen and participating David Jones stores. Of the $150 retail price, $50 will be donated to the Australian Red Cross. www.georgjensen.com.au

12. Simplifying the donation process, Spend-Well offers you access to a huge selection of online retailers (including Westfield, Booktopia, iTunes, Bonds and so many more). Then you nominate a charity (also a wide range!) who will receive a percentage of your purchase total from the retailer. All you need to do is your Christmas shopping and the charity work is taken care of. www.spend-well.com