Charity

I believe strongly in giving. The very act of being charitable makes you feel better. I believe that what we give we get back. Even as you are trying to pay down your debt and build your savings it is important to keep giving. I give in two ways. I give my time in volunteer hours locally and I make financial donations to some selected charities. It may be that my financial donations would be more effective if I concentrated them in a few areas but I choose to spread them around. So far this year I have donated to:

Nothing but Nets
Charity:Water
Oprah’s Angel Network
My local library (where I also volunteer four hours a week)
Frontier CASA, where I am a volunteer advocate for children in foster care
Microplace (okay I know this isn’t a charity as far as the IRS is concerned but it makes me feel good and I never “invest” more than I can afford to donate. If I get my money back in 30 months, it’s a bonus!)
Fellowship Bible Church, Roswell, GA (contributions to my two nieces’ missions)
I also donate my time to my local humane society

I have found that the more I give the more I want to give. If all I get back from giving is the great feeling it gives me, that is enough! Find something that interests you and get involved. Donate money, volunteer your time. Get involved!