There's no denying that saving money is a hot topic these days. I know that most people read this blog to find out ways that they can cut down on what they spend yet still enjoy their day-to-day life. Today, though, I'd like to suggest we flip that notion on its head. Instead of focusing on saving yourself money, how about challenging yourself to find two ways that you can do something for someone else to help them cut down their spending.
What do I mean?
Take five minutes today and do an inventory of your "stuff." Can you figure out a way to bless someone else with something you no longer need, use or want? Do you have boxes sitting in your basement, attic or garage for that "someday" garage sale?
Here are three ways I'm sharing the wealth this week:
- Putting books up on PaperBack Swap. These books came from a shelving unit in my younger daughter's bedroom that we'd cleaned out this past weekend. She's outgrown the books, and now I'm sending those books out to someone else for free (to them). Granted, by giving away my books, I earn points on PaperBackSwap to get free books. But I'll just consider that a kind of book-loving karma.
- Giving away items on Freecycle. Recently, we went to my mother in law's house for Sunday dinner (as we often do). When I brought something out to the trash, I noticed a large items sitting next to the trash can. It was a dining room table pad that my mother in law was throwing out. I'll admit that the pad was beat up and torn in places, and that's why she decided to buy a new one. But these pads are designed to go under tablecloths so I had a feeling that someone else might benefit from this used table pad. After getting her permission to snatch it from the trash and taking it home, I finally got around to putting the table pad up as an offer on Freecycle yesterday. Someone is coming by tomorrow to get it.
- Making in-kind donations to good causes. Once again my kids have managed to grow out of their clothing, and now I've got three bags of perfectly good girls pants, shirts and dresses and no one to wear them. So tomorrow I'm bringing these three bags over to the local church-run thrift store. Even though it's called a thrift store, they actually give the clothes away to indigent families that need them. Sure, I'll get a tax write-off for my donation, but more importantly, I'll be allowing some girls out there to enjoy some decent clothing for which we no longer have a need.
How are you going to share the wealth today? Let us know - email us at
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