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Times are tough. But you don’t have to abandon your values to save a buck. Welcome to the People’s Marketplace.

It’s that time of year again. Bells are jingling, halls are decked with holly, and even the most conscious and cash-strapped among us become holiday consumers. If you think crowded malls take the joy out of the season, take your gift list to the holiday craft fair near you. It only takes one stop to get all your shopping done while also supporting local artisans and truly small businesses.

In Los Angeles, your options are endless on December 11th and 12th. Browse and mingle at the two day event, UniqueLA Independent Design and Gift Show, at the California Market Center Penthouse. For a $10 admission fee, you can get a free tote bag, unlimited entry, and workshops. Find out more at uniquela.com. Or shop til you drop at the free-to-enter Afghan Women’s Mission Holiday Bazaar (full disclosure, and reason to attend – its sponsored by KPFK). The Bazaar is packed with merch from local crafters and handmade items sold on behalf of artisans in Afghanistan and Palestine. Its located at the Immanual Presbeterian Church on wilshire, and you can find out more at www.afghanwomensmission.org. Both Unique LA and the Afghan Women’s Mission raise the bar by donating some of the proceeds to very good causes.

The jam packed local-craft weekend on the 11th and 12th continues at the Renegade Handmade Craft Fair in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. And heads-up Northern Calfornian’s, Renegade also has a fair on December 18th and 19th in San Francisco at the Concourse Exhibition Center. Find out more at renegadecraft.com. Back in and Also on the 18th is the 9th Annual Winter Anti-Mall, at the The Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. It’s an all day family event replete with music and food. Find the details at myspace.com/elpuente_the_alternative.

For a near exhaustive and geographically diverse list of fairs, festivals, and bazaar’s go to the website, www.fesitvalnet.com or www.fairsandfestivals.net.

Or, anyone from anywhere shop online for their rebel rousing loved ones, by visiting the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, at www.politicalgraphics.org. Social Justice and art collide in their selection of books, posters, and in their amazing wall calendar, featuring a different poster for every month of the year.

So, support the small economies found at your local holiday fair, and you’ll find plenty of reasons to rejoice in the conscious consumerism of the season.