We received a letter from a reader who pointed out that in our monthly budget items for our four families we left out money set aside for charitable giving.
Kate's family is on a tight budget but they've decided as a family to always give to others and this is how:
1) Family chooses 12 organizations they wish to support.
2) Write a letter explaining you will support them once a year each year and ask them to only contact you once annually. Make 12 copies.
3) Send the letters out to the charities.
4) Buy a folder with a pocket on each side. Make a list of the charities, numbering them 1 to 12 to correspond with the months and stick it on the folder. Inside keep tax receipts on one side and donation envelopes on the other (usually there is no postage required). Each month on the same day (ours is the 15th) write and mail the cheque.
5) You can start small (say $10) and increase as circumstances improve. It becomes a habit that will be easy to follow and money you won't miss.
This helps charities with their mailings and helps you reduce the amount of paper in your mailbox and then the blue box.
(Editor's Note: most charities also give a tax receipt)
- Kate
- Lisa Grace Marr
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