Suzan spent less than $150 on presents for 53 members of her family...and they all get a unique handmade gift from Ecuador

Spoiler alert: If you’re a member of my family, quit reading now. Otherwise you’ll not only spoil your Christmas surprise, but you’ll also find out what a cheapskate I am…

And yes, I know…it’s barely September. But please bear with me.

You see, long ago our extended family (nieces, nephews, in-laws and outlaws) abandoned the idea of the Christmas gift exchange. There are just too many of us.

Still, it’s nice to let people know…at least once a year…that you’re thinking of them. But gift-giving, especially when you have five generations of 53 people on your list, can be tediously time consuming and ridiculously expensive. Unless you live somewhere like Ecuador.

A 25-cent bus ride from my home in Cotatcachi gets me to the nearby town of Otavalo. This is where the world’s largest open-air indigenous market takes place every Saturday. (The market is open every day, but on Saturdays it spills into every side street and crevice for blocks from the main town square—the aptly named Poncho Plaza.)

I can’t count the number of times I’ve wandered beneath the blue tarps, searching and bargaining for treasures. I’m not a shopper per se, but this I never tire of. It’s a full-on (and pleasant) assault on the senses.

You can find anything here…woolen goods like hats, sweaters, and bags; jewelry made from silver, wood, seeds; artwork; children’s toys, musical instruments, and on and on…and this is just in the four square miles devoted to tourist products.

In another part of the market you can shop for the freshest produce, meats, and cheeses…in another for shoes, clothes, kitchen utensils, car parts… Across town, pick up some live animals—chickens, pigs, rabbits, cows, donkeys, and yes, the most-revered cuy. (Commonly known as guinea pig—platters of this fried delicacy are served at fiestas and special celebrations.)

Long ago I learned that the best prices in the market are given to those who bargain hard (I’ve become an expert at that) and to those who buy in bulk. What better place to shop for one-gift-fits-all family Christmas presents?

Knowing that we’d soon be traveling to the States and therefore have the opportunity to offload the booty, off we went to the Otavalo market last Saturday with our recyclable tote bags in hand.

For all the women in our family we bought wool bags, woven in gloriously bright colors and cheerful patterns. The musical men are getting pan pipes and wooden carved flutes. Others are getting leather and horsehair bracelets. The younger boys will be delighted by shrunken heads made of leather and horsehair. (Gruesomely cool.)

We bought alpaca teddy bears for the babies, and the toddlers will look so cute in their hooded sweaters. The girls will love their neon-colored backpacks hand embroidered with Andean scenes. And everyone is getting a pair of warm wool gloves. (Perfect for those who choose to live in the frozen north. Thankfully we won’t be needing them!)

Back at home we covered the bed with all our treasures and we tallied the costs.

We spent less than $150 total and everyone…all 53 of them…gets a unique handmade gift from Ecuador.

But best of all, the shopping was fun. And now it’s done. And it’s barely September…

When you visit Ecuador don’t let this opportunity pass you up. Bring an empty suitcase along and fill it to the brim with goodies purchased in the markets here. When you get home, give them as gifts or sell them through consignment shops. The toddler sweaters we bought for $3 each are selling for $40 on the Internet.

Editor’s note: Speaking of incredible bargains…the Ultimate Ecuador Kit is our greatest ever Ecuador offer. You get:

• Ecuador: The Owner’s Manual (brand-new 2010 edition)
• Ultimate Ecuador Forum (3-hour audio session)
• Cuenca Report: Your Little Piece of Paradise (the best deal in the world’s top retirement haven)
• White Paper: Ecuador’s Pacific Coast (scouting notes from our top real estate expert Ronan McMahon)

All for far less than Suzan spent on her Christmas shopping! Get the full details here.