According to a report recently released by AOL, shoppers will be spending 53 percent, or about $295 each, of their allotted holiday budget online this year.

This is a 6 percent increase compared with last year, and the numbers continue to swell. The benefits of online versus "brick and mortar" shopping can be many, including great bargains, fast shipping on many sites (no lines at the post office!), and for the truly time-pressed, the always-perfect e-mail gift certificate.

For those who want to remember and share the deeper meaning of the season, online shopping for charitable gifts is also easier than ever.

For the undecided, gift certificates to these sites are always a hit as they can be redeemed for books, music, toys, movies and electronics, among other items.

Associated with National Geographic, Novica sells the pieces its artists make for fair compensation, and buyers receive not only a handmade and beautifully wrapped treasure, but also a friendly postcard from the artist to show the item's place of origin. Shoppers can search by region or by item type (ponchos, rugs or puppets, for example).

Because some of the items are shipped from Novica offices worldwide, shipping may be appropriately slower, depending on the item.

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