My new year's resolution for 2007 was to actually contribute to charity rather than wish I had. I to have found it incredibly rewarding and also a really good conversation starter.
I structured it so that I had different types of organizations to give to and make a monthly contribution. This way I have a plan as to which causes I would like to contribute to and can really spread it around.
while it a given that a savings account is preferable a lot of people do not have a back up plan of any kind.
Unemployment insurance is not new in the US but supplemental job loss coverage is.. It is very popular in Europe and Canada. In the old days people scoffed at health insurance to pay hospital bills..(some still do!) The point is as this type of coverage is being made available, it will be found that personal supplemental job loss coverage, paid in addition to regular unemployment, will become a very good way to cope with expenses when they get disabled or go to the hospital or lose their job..This type of coverage is a spin off from credit card coverage and can even pay for your mortgage if you have it before a claim occurs.. If you wonder how you will pay your mortgage if you are laid off, get sick and cant work, go to the hospital, or even die you should have this new coverage..
Thank you for all the good vibes! I (obviously) share your passions for giving.
That is part of the reason I am travelling the world - I am willing and able to find as many causes as I can to contibute towards. And in doing so I am happier than I have ever been, money or not!
I'm not against unusual names, but I see horrible names/ name combos daily & I just can't help thinking about these poor kids' futures: twins names America & Americo, sisters named Chanda & Chanta Lier, Awesome & Sexy (oh yes, I saw that lovely name this morning. How do people think that anyone will respect these kids (or adults)?
I too looked into this because the online game locked up on me. I tried it at a friends house because I thought it had something to do with my connection. Nope. It still does it on his computer too. I've been screwed out of so many dice rolls. Ugh...sad truth is, even though I'm aware of the problems, I'll probably still keep trying. Which is why they can get away with it...ppl like us perpetuate it.
When you give to someone without any expectation of receiving anything back, often you are giving far more than money or a material good. Perhaps you are giving the person hope, faith that things work out, or an example of the joy of giving. That's worth far more than buying a new purse any day. Thanks for this post.
Last week one of the bloggers talked about values and gave some examples of things that might have been conflicting values. But charitable giving is where values really come into play. We are making major changes in our household to tackle some $30,000 in debt and to increase our savings. We're becoming a one car family, cutting our food budget in half, and taking many other steps to cut costs. What we aren't cutting is our charitable giving. We are blessed - even when we're struggling, we're blessed. Our charitable giving is our investment in our neighbors and our hope for the future.
I am so glad I found this site! The online game was hung up--again--which I knew meant I would lose my code and feel ripped off--again--so I went looking for someplace to vent my spleen about these constant problems (all the stuff the rest of you have pointed out about the online game). I don't play the lottery, but I let myself get sucked into this game. I admit, I got suckered by how easy they made it sound, quoting past years' winners. (Plus, it's Monopoly, right? We all grew up playing it; we know it's winnable. You keep thinking that one more roll of the dice is all it will take.) I don't even like McDonald's. Well, I'm done. Your comments have helped me tremendously. (And I've bookmarked this site.)
I couldn't agree more. Charitable giving is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of wealth.
Sure, it's all about personal finance is all about creating personal freedom in the beginning, but with enough persistence and diligence, you eventually have enough money to buy anything you want and don't have to worry about your bills anymore.
Then the question becomes, "Now what?"
For me, the only answer is contribution, both in the form of knowledge (my blog) and in the form of dollars (my gifts). I want to do something that has a lasting, positive impact on the world and helps others at the same time.
It's been one of the most enjoyable parts of my life by far. To see that you are making a difference and to see the gratitude in people's eyes... my god, it feels good.
Thanks for posting about it. I don't think we can ever hear this message enough.
The IRS will let you pay taxes on your income without proving how you got it. (When you need proof is when you receive money that isn't income (refunds, rebates, gifts, etc.). If you say it's income and pay taxes on it, the IRS won't put up a fuss.
With the proviso that I'm not an attorney or accountant, I think your girlfriend will need to file a schedule C, for business income. On a schedule C you need to include a code for the category of your business, but they're broad categories--there'll be one for "performers" that will include dancers.
I'm so glad to come across this info from you guys. I should have known all this but it makes so much more of an impression to have all, of you chiming in. I never eat at McDonalds except during this rotten game!!! I too am hooked. That's it! I'm boycotting McDonalds!!! Long Live Burger King and Wendy's!!! HA HA HA
I'm happy to let you in on the odds. After all, we all know that winning the Powerball is almost impossible, with odds that are millions to one. But McDonalds make it seem so much easier to win on Monopoly, and the truth is far from easy. Bottom line...probably best not to fill your body with all that sodium and fat just to get a chance at that rarest of rare prizes, the $1 million. If there are only three winning game pieces in the whole country, you'd have more chance of finding Wonka's Golden Ticket.
Don't feel bad! "Stealing" such a great idea as having a savings account was probably a turning point in his financial life! Maybe you'll even see him writing articles like this one before long!
If you read the rules for the online game very carefully it explains the set up. Essentially there are "instant win" prizes online, like the $200 go, chance $$, free parking $$ and community chest (free game download). The computer is set to pick a randomized time per (hour, day, etc. depending on the prize) and only the player who enters a good code at the designated time can win. If multiple players enter a code at the same winning time, it will randomly pick one as the winner. The dice will then roll appropriately to put you in the winning spot, even by a series of double rolls. The "collect to win" spots, I am not sure but I believe are tied to specific "winning" codes with odds that match the board game version, if not worse. If you're not entering a pre-determined winning code, and you also do not enter a code at the "magic" time of day, you will simply roll around the board forever. I was playing 10 codes a day (the max) since day one (given by friends) until I got frustrated and looked into it. The dice rolls are not randomly generated, although I did manage to snag one of the free game downloads, I assume by entering at the "winning prize time". Its perfectly legal for them to "rig" the dice, so long as they have legally informed you via the rules.
People don't seem to see the point that the author was talking about a 50's style of life. Yes rent is alot more money, but there are no hot waterless shacks to live in anymore. Because everyone has a car now, the mainstream psychology now is that its ok to have to drive 15 minutes to get to a supermarket. A high standard of living is basically forced upon us now.
Yes there are some people who really do have a tough life, but these are mostly caused by serious disasters. While growing up, it was just me my mom and my older sister. We lived in projects, but found that they were really only economical for people on welfare. We started renting out floors of other peoples houses, having 2 families in one house. It got really stressful, but it worked. Me and my sister both started working at the age of 16, and havent stopped since. But my mom didn't take any of our money, it was for our own private use, since believes strongly that the primary income should be enough for a family.
Now things are slightly better. I've had cars, but decided insurance wasn't worth it, so now I walk to college and borrow my moms car when I can. My sisters gotten married and now has her own house. My mom has worked the same job for over 10 years now, slowly moving up in the medical field (started at a nursing home, became an assistant nurse at a hospital, and has gotten a few promotions there). Yes, things are not always easy, and unexpected expensives can be killer. But we have all the basics, avoid debt, and save money where we can.
Why can't people walk in the winter? I recall pictures of children walking in snow with no shoes in my history classes, going to there factory job for the next 12 hours(more like late 19th century, but it still happened). People complain about insurance costs, while 50+ years ago people just died slowly of mystery illnesses. The idea isn't that its EASY to live on a small income in America, just thats its a hell of a lot better then it once was.
As i sit here eating my large fry (that I only got for the game pieces)I am reading and nodding, but planning what time of day I will go to McDonalds tomorrow. Its all in fun!
This seems to happen to me every year. I go to McDonald's during their Monopoly promotion and intentionally order food/drink which I know will have the game pieces. Unfortunately, a lot of times, 1 or more of the food/drink items will not have the 2 game pieces on it. Of course, I'll ask the cashier why it doesn't have the game pieces on it, but all I usually get is a blank stare from the cashier, followed by the cashier asking a shiftleader about it. Usually they'll end up giving me an empty medium cup or empty fries to make up for any missing game pieces.
A few suggestions for McDonald's:
- Train your employees about the promotion. They should know more about it than I do.
- Make sure you have enough of a supply of game pieces to last the entire promotion. You know it's a popular promotion, so make sure you stock up. I know the fine print says "while supplies last," but there's no excuse for me not receiving game pieces at 3 different McDonald's locations before the promotion is even half over.
- If you do run out of game pieces, inform all your staff so that they are aware. If a customer orders a food/drink item for which you've run out of game pieces, the cashier should automatically give the customer game pieces from an empty cup/fries/etc. Don't make the customer have to ask for it. If you forget to give one to the customer, don't cop an attitude when the customer requests the missing game pieces.
- Don't leave the promotional signage up in the store or on the menuboard if you don't have the game pieces to back it up. If I see a "Play Monopoly!" decal on the menuboard next to the Chicken Selects, it is not unreasonable for me to expect to get my game pieces on the Chicken Selects.
Thank you for exposing the hard dirty truth about this Monopoly game. I too got caught up in winning, but now that I read about the odds and facts of the game, I feel terrible that I subjected my body to the greasey fatty food. As of now....I'm boycotting McDonalds! No more. They got me...and will get many more, but don't fall for it hopeful winners, it's BS! I'm mad. Thank you
One time someone called me to sell me this and I said I didn't need it. He then explained how great it was and why. I then explained that I insure myself with a handy thing called a savings account. And it doesn't just work on credit card payments, it can be used towards anything. The poor youngster said that he liked this idea and was going to start using it himself. I think he actually used the phrase "steal it." He's going to steal my idea of having a savings account.
That was the most fun but also sad sales call I've ever had. I feel bad that he might have liked his job less afterwards.
I live in the "fruitlands" of Massachusetts, so pick-your-own places are everywhere, and they ARE pricey. I've done it two years running now, but I doubt I'll go again. To make it worth your while you have to pick A LOT of apples (as you point), and then you have to do something with all of them. I think I'd rather harvest the apples from my own tree (not as nice of apples for eating whole, but still good for baking) or just buy them in the store; that way, I get them at the rate I want them.
Anyway, great article, and I agree completely: it's really the experience you're paying for, and you really need to decide if that's worth it for you.
My new year's resolution for 2007 was to actually contribute to charity rather than wish I had. I to have found it incredibly rewarding and also a really good conversation starter.
I structured it so that I had different types of organizations to give to and make a monthly contribution. This way I have a plan as to which causes I would like to contribute to and can really spread it around.
I even have a spreadsheet to track it all.
cool that u made the bag out of jeans i have seen he same thing but it was just paper trying to emulate that
while it a given that a savings account is preferable a lot of people do not have a back up plan of any kind.
Unemployment insurance is not new in the US but supplemental job loss coverage is.. It is very popular in Europe and Canada. In the old days people scoffed at health insurance to pay hospital bills..(some still do!) The point is as this type of coverage is being made available, it will be found that personal supplemental job loss coverage, paid in addition to regular unemployment, will become a very good way to cope with expenses when they get disabled or go to the hospital or lose their job..This type of coverage is a spin off from credit card coverage and can even pay for your mortgage if you have it before a claim occurs.. If you wonder how you will pay your mortgage if you are laid off, get sick and cant work, go to the hospital, or even die you should have this new coverage..
my opinion should be yours....
Thank you for all the good vibes! I (obviously) share your passions for giving.
That is part of the reason I am travelling the world - I am willing and able to find as many causes as I can to contibute towards. And in doing so I am happier than I have ever been, money or not!
It is better for the environment if your a renter. A renter takes up less space on the planet and uses less resources.
I'm not against unusual names, but I see horrible names/ name combos daily & I just can't help thinking about these poor kids' futures: twins names America & Americo, sisters named Chanda & Chanta Lier, Awesome & Sexy (oh yes, I saw that lovely name this morning. How do people think that anyone will respect these kids (or adults)?
I buy on ebay too
I too looked into this because the online game locked up on me. I tried it at a friends house because I thought it had something to do with my connection. Nope. It still does it on his computer too. I've been screwed out of so many dice rolls. Ugh...sad truth is, even though I'm aware of the problems, I'll probably still keep trying. Which is why they can get away with it...ppl like us perpetuate it.
excellent post. it is very rewarding to seek out charities, causes, and activities that help the community in which you live and work.
one of the biggest joys of money and time is being able to use them to help.
When you give to someone without any expectation of receiving anything back, often you are giving far more than money or a material good. Perhaps you are giving the person hope, faith that things work out, or an example of the joy of giving. That's worth far more than buying a new purse any day. Thanks for this post.
Last week one of the bloggers talked about values and gave some examples of things that might have been conflicting values. But charitable giving is where values really come into play. We are making major changes in our household to tackle some $30,000 in debt and to increase our savings. We're becoming a one car family, cutting our food budget in half, and taking many other steps to cut costs. What we aren't cutting is our charitable giving. We are blessed - even when we're struggling, we're blessed. Our charitable giving is our investment in our neighbors and our hope for the future.
I am so glad I found this site! The online game was hung up--again--which I knew meant I would lose my code and feel ripped off--again--so I went looking for someplace to vent my spleen about these constant problems (all the stuff the rest of you have pointed out about the online game). I don't play the lottery, but I let myself get sucked into this game. I admit, I got suckered by how easy they made it sound, quoting past years' winners. (Plus, it's Monopoly, right? We all grew up playing it; we know it's winnable. You keep thinking that one more roll of the dice is all it will take.) I don't even like McDonald's. Well, I'm done. Your comments have helped me tremendously. (And I've bookmarked this site.)
Nora,
I couldn't agree more. Charitable giving is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of wealth.
Sure, it's all about personal finance is all about creating personal freedom in the beginning, but with enough persistence and diligence, you eventually have enough money to buy anything you want and don't have to worry about your bills anymore.
Then the question becomes, "Now what?"
For me, the only answer is contribution, both in the form of knowledge (my blog) and in the form of dollars (my gifts). I want to do something that has a lasting, positive impact on the world and helps others at the same time.
It's been one of the most enjoyable parts of my life by far. To see that you are making a difference and to see the gratitude in people's eyes... my god, it feels good.
Thanks for posting about it. I don't think we can ever hear this message enough.
Jon
The IRS will let you pay taxes on your income without proving how you got it. (When you need proof is when you receive money that isn't income (refunds, rebates, gifts, etc.). If you say it's income and pay taxes on it, the IRS won't put up a fuss.
With the proviso that I'm not an attorney or accountant, I think your girlfriend will need to file a schedule C, for business income. On a schedule C you need to include a code for the category of your business, but they're broad categories--there'll be one for "performers" that will include dancers.
I'm so glad to come across this info from you guys. I should have known all this but it makes so much more of an impression to have all, of you chiming in. I never eat at McDonalds except during this rotten game!!! I too am hooked. That's it! I'm boycotting McDonalds!!! Long Live Burger King and Wendy's!!! HA HA HA
I'm happy to let you in on the odds. After all, we all know that winning the Powerball is almost impossible, with odds that are millions to one. But McDonalds make it seem so much easier to win on Monopoly, and the truth is far from easy. Bottom line...probably best not to fill your body with all that sodium and fat just to get a chance at that rarest of rare prizes, the $1 million. If there are only three winning game pieces in the whole country, you'd have more chance of finding Wonka's Golden Ticket.
Don't feel bad! "Stealing" such a great idea as having a savings account was probably a turning point in his financial life! Maybe you'll even see him writing articles like this one before long!
If you read the rules for the online game very carefully it explains the set up. Essentially there are "instant win" prizes online, like the $200 go, chance $$, free parking $$ and community chest (free game download). The computer is set to pick a randomized time per (hour, day, etc. depending on the prize) and only the player who enters a good code at the designated time can win. If multiple players enter a code at the same winning time, it will randomly pick one as the winner. The dice will then roll appropriately to put you in the winning spot, even by a series of double rolls. The "collect to win" spots, I am not sure but I believe are tied to specific "winning" codes with odds that match the board game version, if not worse. If you're not entering a pre-determined winning code, and you also do not enter a code at the "magic" time of day, you will simply roll around the board forever. I was playing 10 codes a day (the max) since day one (given by friends) until I got frustrated and looked into it. The dice rolls are not randomly generated, although I did manage to snag one of the free game downloads, I assume by entering at the "winning prize time". Its perfectly legal for them to "rig" the dice, so long as they have legally informed you via the rules.
People don't seem to see the point that the author was talking about a 50's style of life. Yes rent is alot more money, but there are no hot waterless shacks to live in anymore. Because everyone has a car now, the mainstream psychology now is that its ok to have to drive 15 minutes to get to a supermarket. A high standard of living is basically forced upon us now.
Yes there are some people who really do have a tough life, but these are mostly caused by serious disasters. While growing up, it was just me my mom and my older sister. We lived in projects, but found that they were really only economical for people on welfare. We started renting out floors of other peoples houses, having 2 families in one house. It got really stressful, but it worked. Me and my sister both started working at the age of 16, and havent stopped since. But my mom didn't take any of our money, it was for our own private use, since believes strongly that the primary income should be enough for a family.
Now things are slightly better. I've had cars, but decided insurance wasn't worth it, so now I walk to college and borrow my moms car when I can. My sisters gotten married and now has her own house. My mom has worked the same job for over 10 years now, slowly moving up in the medical field (started at a nursing home, became an assistant nurse at a hospital, and has gotten a few promotions there). Yes, things are not always easy, and unexpected expensives can be killer. But we have all the basics, avoid debt, and save money where we can.
Why can't people walk in the winter? I recall pictures of children walking in snow with no shoes in my history classes, going to there factory job for the next 12 hours(more like late 19th century, but it still happened). People complain about insurance costs, while 50+ years ago people just died slowly of mystery illnesses. The idea isn't that its EASY to live on a small income in America, just thats its a hell of a lot better then it once was.
As i sit here eating my large fry (that I only got for the game pieces)I am reading and nodding, but planning what time of day I will go to McDonalds tomorrow. Its all in fun!
This seems to happen to me every year. I go to McDonald's during their Monopoly promotion and intentionally order food/drink which I know will have the game pieces. Unfortunately, a lot of times, 1 or more of the food/drink items will not have the 2 game pieces on it. Of course, I'll ask the cashier why it doesn't have the game pieces on it, but all I usually get is a blank stare from the cashier, followed by the cashier asking a shiftleader about it. Usually they'll end up giving me an empty medium cup or empty fries to make up for any missing game pieces.
A few suggestions for McDonald's:
- Train your employees about the promotion. They should know more about it than I do.
- Make sure you have enough of a supply of game pieces to last the entire promotion. You know it's a popular promotion, so make sure you stock up. I know the fine print says "while supplies last," but there's no excuse for me not receiving game pieces at 3 different McDonald's locations before the promotion is even half over.
- If you do run out of game pieces, inform all your staff so that they are aware. If a customer orders a food/drink item for which you've run out of game pieces, the cashier should automatically give the customer game pieces from an empty cup/fries/etc. Don't make the customer have to ask for it. If you forget to give one to the customer, don't cop an attitude when the customer requests the missing game pieces.
- Don't leave the promotional signage up in the store or on the menuboard if you don't have the game pieces to back it up. If I see a "Play Monopoly!" decal on the menuboard next to the Chicken Selects, it is not unreasonable for me to expect to get my game pieces on the Chicken Selects.
Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.
Thank you for exposing the hard dirty truth about this Monopoly game. I too got caught up in winning, but now that I read about the odds and facts of the game, I feel terrible that I subjected my body to the greasey fatty food. As of now....I'm boycotting McDonalds! No more. They got me...and will get many more, but don't fall for it hopeful winners, it's BS! I'm mad. Thank you
One time someone called me to sell me this and I said I didn't need it. He then explained how great it was and why. I then explained that I insure myself with a handy thing called a savings account. And it doesn't just work on credit card payments, it can be used towards anything. The poor youngster said that he liked this idea and was going to start using it himself. I think he actually used the phrase "steal it." He's going to steal my idea of having a savings account.
That was the most fun but also sad sales call I've ever had. I feel bad that he might have liked his job less afterwards.
I live in the "fruitlands" of Massachusetts, so pick-your-own places are everywhere, and they ARE pricey. I've done it two years running now, but I doubt I'll go again. To make it worth your while you have to pick A LOT of apples (as you point), and then you have to do something with all of them. I think I'd rather harvest the apples from my own tree (not as nice of apples for eating whole, but still good for baking) or just buy them in the store; that way, I get them at the rate I want them.
Anyway, great article, and I agree completely: it's really the experience you're paying for, and you really need to decide if that's worth it for you.
my friend won that game three years ago when it first started. He got Boardwalk and Park place.