How to Give This Season

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My wife and I used the book "Robin Hood Was Right" by Chuck Collins to figure out our giving plan. We each decide on our primary cause which we try to stick with for yeras, and then decide on a total budget for the given year. We give a third to her cause, a third to mine, and divide up the remaining third to give smaller amounts to all the non-profits we directly benefit from (our alma-maters, NPR, etc). That way we maximize our impact on the core issues we see in making a better world, while also supporting the groups doing work for us.
Happy Holidays!

Ned of WA 12:17PM December 10, 2008

One idea I recently heard suggested giving to charity the same amount you spend on gifts. I thought this was a great idea, and it helps keep my family focused on what's really important. We also give 50% of the money we make from our personal finance blog, which also helps keep life in perspective.

DR of VA 9:01AM December 07, 2008

Wow I love this Aryn - thank you! That is what the holiday spirit is all about.

Kimberly Palmer of 11:41PM December 05, 2008

My extended family started adopting a family every Christmas after my very charitable aunt passed away 10 years ago. For several years we managed to get the same family (with a disabled child) and eventually discovered we had a family connection to them. Even though that family is no longer in the program, we still pool our resources as a family every year.
Last year, my family and the family we spend Christmas with decided to forgo our gift exchange and instead adopt a family as a group. This year we're doing the same.
Between the two large groups, we make the holidays very merry for two families in need without putting our own budgets at risk. For one group, it's $10 per adult, for another it's $15 per adult. My husband and I contribute a total of $50, which we made up for by limiting our gift-giving to other people and each other.

Aryn of CA 8:53PM December 05, 2008