My husband and I have recently started paying back our hefty student loans and things have been extremely tight for us, but we do try to give as much as we can, as often as we can.
Besides giving old clothes and things we don't use to the Salvation Army, I like that most stores allow you to tack on an extra couple of dollars to your total for a charity that they support.
It's not much, and we don't go seeking it out, but whenever I have the opportunity to donate a few dollars, I do. I just look at it as part of the grocery/pet budget.
Great post, I tend to keep most of my money in the stock market.
But one thing I think is pretty important is to have a couple sources of income outside of your job.
This way if you get fired and need $2,500 a month to live off of, but you make $1,000 a month from other sources it is going to really lower the amount you need to have in an emergency fund to survive.
This year money is tight, but we have been blessed in other ways and we're not in survival mode. We always have food on the table and a roof over our heads.
I believe in Matthew 8:10 "Freely you have received, freely give." So, my family and I have found ways to serve our community by giving our time and talents instead of money.
I volunteer for the worship team at our church on Sunday, I play guitar and sing.
The church needed insulation put in the ceiling this winter, so I go up twice a week to volunteer my time and help cut the insulation.
I helped acquire and set up the computers for our local library this weekend. And this month I signed up to volunteer for a community soup supper.
There's a lot of little ways you can help your community. You don't have to give a lot of money. Volunteering your time can be a very fulfilling thing to do.
I stockpile some items to have things on hand to donate. I support a charity-related thrift store with things I no longer need. I give cash to relief and health agencies. I try to do for others when I can. I help with public-service events that support charities (bicycle rides, walks, marathons, etc.)
We don't have a lot to give right now and have not for the past couple years (or at least as much as I would like to give). We send a check for about $25.00 each quarter to the food bank in our area. I also try to bring bag of groceries to the soup kitchen in our town whenever I can (watch for those BOGO sales at the grocery store).
I also donate to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer & have worked on a rest stop crew for the past six years, this one being #7 in May.
Also at Christmas time we select two kids from the Salvation Army Giving Tree & buy them gifts.
I would like to give but a few very expensive and unexpected events happened during this month and I can't afford to give anything. I will have to wait to see how things pan out for next year.
This year, in addition to my walking and fundraising for The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, I decided to make a more deliberate and organized effort to give to Goodwill.
I made a New Year's Resolution of donating *something* every week.
This, admittedly, serves a selfish purpose as well as a charitable one -- I really really want to cut down on my "stuff" and simplify my life a little.
The first few weeks were easy... a bag of clothes that don't fit anymore, shoes that I never wear, an extra comforter. Now I'm getting to the point where I have to look for things and talk myself into parting with something. Last week it was a foot spa I keep telling myself I'll use but never do... next week I think it will be a box of books.
It's getting more difficult as I go, but that's also making it feel even better.
I'm in survival mode. I rarely donate anything unless it's my time/expertise. Instead, I try to do things like buy only from local vendors and keep my community going that way...
i am currently in the process of refinancing. i have budgeted the additional savings to miscellaneous donations for disasters that arise (e.g. haiti) and kiva.org.
We're giving more than we gave last year, which was nothing; but we are still just barely making enough money to survive, so we are not giving much this year. I feel really bad about this, but I can't figure out any way for us to live on less than we're doing now. Course, if things change - like, if I get hired on full-time or if my husband gets a scholarship - then we'll be able to give more. That'd be nice!
My family donates money and time every year. In past years the money has gone to groups like the Nature Conservancy. This year we can see budget cuts affecting our local charities and decided to give locally. Our local elementary school got a check to buy books (their budget had been reduced to zero this year) and in the spirit of fairness we donated an equal amount to another elementary school in the district that has more kids in need.
I also volunteer in the library every week and as a family we volunteer at the local food bank.
We try to give what we can to various charities, including our church. I volunteer my time as needed where ever I can and give items such as knitting and homemade cards where they can be used. We definitely cut back on food and extras so the giving always continues.
At the beginning of each year, I figure out what 10% of my salary is. I then donate that amount divided equally among three different categories -- people, cats (sorry dog people) & my church. Once I know how much each group gets, I divide the church & cat groups by 12 and write them a check each month -- just like paying a monthly bill. The people charities are three charities whose causes I support -- Hunters & Farmers Feeding the Hungry, So Others Might Eat and Pedals for Progress. Every month one charity gets a donation and then I rotate onto the next one the next month. Also painless giving as I know it's scheduled into my budget.
The economy is bad and money seems to be tight everywhere. This makes it hard on some essential services that are donation supported. One such organization is our local homeless shelter. The shelter is relatively new and was established by a lot of people working hard to build and equip it. Now that the need is greater due to economic times, donations have declined. I personally donate what I can in terms of labor, money, used clothing, household objects and such. The great reward to all this is seeing the appreciative faces of those who have fallen on tough times and need a helping hand.
I always donate at least SOME money to my favourite animal charities every year. I also donate supplies (food, towels, etc.) when I can. This year I will also be doing the Humane Society's Walk for Animals and collecting pledges to raise money for the shelters.
I don't have a lot of money coming in right now, but I do have performance page views from my old Associated Content articles that I save up in my paypal account to donate. I also do MTurk tasks now and then and save spare change (<-this last one is a bit more effective when one is employed) for a sort of internet augmented change jar. I keep track of it on a semi-private blog which has successfully killed my urge to spend it on other things rather than donating it.
I'm another supporter of NaNoWriMo, and one of the things we're encouraged to do there is use GoodSearch for our organization. There are a lot of charities to search for, so you can use it to funnel pennies to your favorite charity even when you have no money to give.
I give little things that I would normally treat myself to. For example, I'll skip my morning trips to Starbucks and then treat my friend to lunch or coffee when we get together. It's not a big extravagance, but it's a little something that shows I care and that I want to do something nice for them, especially since I have a higher paying job than a lot of my friends and don't have as much debt from college.
I also volunteer in my local community and church and participate in other fundraisers and such that organizations and my church support.
i have been in survival mode for years, but always gave a little - to the church, red cross, heifer, etc. now that i am finally out of credit card debt, i plan to give a bit more to the same organizations.
Money-wise, I don't have anything to give. But I weekly volunteer my time and find it to be very rewarding. Also, I roll over money from loans on kiva.com that I made when I had more available funds so that I am reinvesting that money even though I can't add new money there.
I find it interesting that most comments say " I look forward to trying this". But how about an actual review?? Please give an honest opinion of something that has been prepared.
My credit union allows donations directly from their website which they will take directly from your bank account. After playing my bills I have a little bit left over and I donate to the Red Cross.
Like a previous commenter, I also check out charities through Charity Navigator, though I also give to some small, local organizations that I have had personal experience with or that people I know are involved with. I look for matching grants and give to organizations that have obtained them. It's another good way to know that my contribution can go a little further, especially when I can't afford a large amount. I NEVER give to organizations who call me randomly at home, and when I get those calls, I let them know that this is my policy.
I give in a variety of ways.
I haven't been personally affected by the economic downturn so I decided to up my financial giving to a few missionaries recently. These are people who are personal friends and who I can speak to openly about finances and, in many cases, they are hurting because donations are down across the board.
I've also done some "cookie packages" for the college ministers. I get together with a few friends and we bake up a bunch of homemade cookies, package them in individual ziploc bags and send them off to the college pastors and interns to give to their students. The responses that I've gotten back have been wonderful. The students love the cookies and the pastors get to say that there are these people who love and are praying for you who don't even know you. The time and monetary committment is small and who doesn't like cookies?
I also give with my time. I do a lot of volunteer stuff with my church, sometimes in places where others are more hesitant to serve (with the high school youth especially. I love them. Most other people love that there's someone else who loves them in this way).
My husband and I have recently started paying back our hefty student loans and things have been extremely tight for us, but we do try to give as much as we can, as often as we can.
Besides giving old clothes and things we don't use to the Salvation Army, I like that most stores allow you to tack on an extra couple of dollars to your total for a charity that they support.
It's not much, and we don't go seeking it out, but whenever I have the opportunity to donate a few dollars, I do. I just look at it as part of the grocery/pet budget.
Great post, I tend to keep most of my money in the stock market.
But one thing I think is pretty important is to have a couple sources of income outside of your job.
This way if you get fired and need $2,500 a month to live off of, but you make $1,000 a month from other sources it is going to really lower the amount you need to have in an emergency fund to survive.
This year money is tight, but we have been blessed in other ways and we're not in survival mode. We always have food on the table and a roof over our heads.
I believe in Matthew 8:10 "Freely you have received, freely give." So, my family and I have found ways to serve our community by giving our time and talents instead of money.
I volunteer for the worship team at our church on Sunday, I play guitar and sing.
The church needed insulation put in the ceiling this winter, so I go up twice a week to volunteer my time and help cut the insulation.
I helped acquire and set up the computers for our local library this weekend. And this month I signed up to volunteer for a community soup supper.
There's a lot of little ways you can help your community. You don't have to give a lot of money. Volunteering your time can be a very fulfilling thing to do.
I stockpile some items to have things on hand to donate. I support a charity-related thrift store with things I no longer need. I give cash to relief and health agencies. I try to do for others when I can. I help with public-service events that support charities (bicycle rides, walks, marathons, etc.)
We don't have a lot to give right now and have not for the past couple years (or at least as much as I would like to give). We send a check for about $25.00 each quarter to the food bank in our area. I also try to bring bag of groceries to the soup kitchen in our town whenever I can (watch for those BOGO sales at the grocery store).
I also donate to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer & have worked on a rest stop crew for the past six years, this one being #7 in May.
Also at Christmas time we select two kids from the Salvation Army Giving Tree & buy them gifts.
I would like to give but a few very expensive and unexpected events happened during this month and I can't afford to give anything. I will have to wait to see how things pan out for next year.
(First, have to say.. I love #17's approach!)
This year, in addition to my walking and fundraising for The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, I decided to make a more deliberate and organized effort to give to Goodwill.
I made a New Year's Resolution of donating *something* every week.
This, admittedly, serves a selfish purpose as well as a charitable one -- I really really want to cut down on my "stuff" and simplify my life a little.
The first few weeks were easy... a bag of clothes that don't fit anymore, shoes that I never wear, an extra comforter. Now I'm getting to the point where I have to look for things and talk myself into parting with something. Last week it was a foot spa I keep telling myself I'll use but never do... next week I think it will be a box of books.
It's getting more difficult as I go, but that's also making it feel even better.
I'm in survival mode. I rarely donate anything unless it's my time/expertise. Instead, I try to do things like buy only from local vendors and keep my community going that way...
i am currently in the process of refinancing. i have budgeted the additional savings to miscellaneous donations for disasters that arise (e.g. haiti) and kiva.org.
We're giving more than we gave last year, which was nothing; but we are still just barely making enough money to survive, so we are not giving much this year. I feel really bad about this, but I can't figure out any way for us to live on less than we're doing now. Course, if things change - like, if I get hired on full-time or if my husband gets a scholarship - then we'll be able to give more. That'd be nice!
Since my wife cannot eat dairy wheat or yeast we have gotten to know corn chips really well. A toaster oven is our most used appliance.
My family donates money and time every year. In past years the money has gone to groups like the Nature Conservancy. This year we can see budget cuts affecting our local charities and decided to give locally. Our local elementary school got a check to buy books (their budget had been reduced to zero this year) and in the spirit of fairness we donated an equal amount to another elementary school in the district that has more kids in need.
I also volunteer in the library every week and as a family we volunteer at the local food bank.
We try to give what we can to various charities, including our church. I volunteer my time as needed where ever I can and give items such as knitting and homemade cards where they can be used. We definitely cut back on food and extras so the giving always continues.
At the beginning of each year, I figure out what 10% of my salary is. I then donate that amount divided equally among three different categories -- people, cats (sorry dog people) & my church. Once I know how much each group gets, I divide the church & cat groups by 12 and write them a check each month -- just like paying a monthly bill. The people charities are three charities whose causes I support -- Hunters & Farmers Feeding the Hungry, So Others Might Eat and Pedals for Progress. Every month one charity gets a donation and then I rotate onto the next one the next month. Also painless giving as I know it's scheduled into my budget.
The economy is bad and money seems to be tight everywhere. This makes it hard on some essential services that are donation supported. One such organization is our local homeless shelter. The shelter is relatively new and was established by a lot of people working hard to build and equip it. Now that the need is greater due to economic times, donations have declined. I personally donate what I can in terms of labor, money, used clothing, household objects and such. The great reward to all this is seeing the appreciative faces of those who have fallen on tough times and need a helping hand.
I always donate at least SOME money to my favourite animal charities every year. I also donate supplies (food, towels, etc.) when I can. This year I will also be doing the Humane Society's Walk for Animals and collecting pledges to raise money for the shelters.
I don't have a lot of money coming in right now, but I do have performance page views from my old Associated Content articles that I save up in my paypal account to donate. I also do MTurk tasks now and then and save spare change (<-this last one is a bit more effective when one is employed) for a sort of internet augmented change jar. I keep track of it on a semi-private blog which has successfully killed my urge to spend it on other things rather than donating it.
I'm another supporter of NaNoWriMo, and one of the things we're encouraged to do there is use GoodSearch for our organization. There are a lot of charities to search for, so you can use it to funnel pennies to your favorite charity even when you have no money to give.
I give little things that I would normally treat myself to. For example, I'll skip my morning trips to Starbucks and then treat my friend to lunch or coffee when we get together. It's not a big extravagance, but it's a little something that shows I care and that I want to do something nice for them, especially since I have a higher paying job than a lot of my friends and don't have as much debt from college.
I also volunteer in my local community and church and participate in other fundraisers and such that organizations and my church support.
i have been in survival mode for years, but always gave a little - to the church, red cross, heifer, etc. now that i am finally out of credit card debt, i plan to give a bit more to the same organizations.
I give to the Humane Society. I saw the commercials and they really moved me to become a monthly sponsor.
Money-wise, I don't have anything to give. But I weekly volunteer my time and find it to be very rewarding. Also, I roll over money from loans on kiva.com that I made when I had more available funds so that I am reinvesting that money even though I can't add new money there.
I find it interesting that most comments say " I look forward to trying this". But how about an actual review?? Please give an honest opinion of something that has been prepared.
My credit union allows donations directly from their website which they will take directly from your bank account. After playing my bills I have a little bit left over and I donate to the Red Cross.
Like a previous commenter, I also check out charities through Charity Navigator, though I also give to some small, local organizations that I have had personal experience with or that people I know are involved with. I look for matching grants and give to organizations that have obtained them. It's another good way to know that my contribution can go a little further, especially when I can't afford a large amount. I NEVER give to organizations who call me randomly at home, and when I get those calls, I let them know that this is my policy.
I give in a variety of ways.
I haven't been personally affected by the economic downturn so I decided to up my financial giving to a few missionaries recently. These are people who are personal friends and who I can speak to openly about finances and, in many cases, they are hurting because donations are down across the board.
I've also done some "cookie packages" for the college ministers. I get together with a few friends and we bake up a bunch of homemade cookies, package them in individual ziploc bags and send them off to the college pastors and interns to give to their students. The responses that I've gotten back have been wonderful. The students love the cookies and the pastors get to say that there are these people who love and are praying for you who don't even know you. The time and monetary committment is small and who doesn't like cookies?
I also give with my time. I do a lot of volunteer stuff with my church, sometimes in places where others are more hesitant to serve (with the high school youth especially. I love them. Most other people love that there's someone else who loves them in this way).