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Your Two Cents: Is There Room in Your Holiday Budget For Charity?

SavvySugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:58 -0800

The holiday season isn't just about gift-giving - even while the budget may be stretched, it's also the time of year to give to charity. It's no secret that things are tight this year. The recession is changing the way we holiday shop, but is it also changing our philanthropic spirit of giving for a good cause?

Apparently so. Charitable foundations and organizations throughout the country are suffering from a lack of funds - the size of charitable giving just isn't sizable enough. Nonprofits, especially on the local level, are dealing with some serious cutbacks in their budgets, thanks to an economic climate that makes giving to a cause more of a luxury than it used to be. Where organizations used to rely on the generosity of philanthropic donors, they are now turning to the government for aid.

It's unfortunate, but while philanthropy is still a valued cause for giving, there are many who just may not be able to offer support this year. Of course, there are other ways to help out - volunteering, for one - but I'm curious: Is writing a check for charity out of the question this holiday season? Or are you still making room in your budget for a charitable donation?

Reader Tip: Make Your Deductible Donations Before January

SavvySugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:07 -0700

Over time we each develop a unique saving style, which is why we started the How Do You Save? group for you to divulge your winning tactics. The group offers a place for you to dole out your advice to other SavvySugar readers trying to save a little moolah and learn from their experiences.

Cocoangel reminds us to clean out our closets, donate items to charity and reap the reward of a tax deduction, more closet space and giving. With 2009 coming to a close, now is the ideal time to make a big donation and pass on items you haven't used in a while. She says:

We stopped having garage sales years ago when our accountant pointed out that if we didn't have the money to give charities we could still claim deductions for the clothes, toys and household goods we donate. Even though we write checks now I still go through the closets and house looking for items that are still useful to someone else. I take a picture of the bags/boxes, attach it to the receipt left by the charity and file in our tax folder.

Do you have a tip for readers? Join our How Do You Save? group and share your helpful suggestions! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

Global Rich Lists Wants You to See How Rich You Really Are

SavvySugar — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:30:39 -0700

If you've ever wondered how your salary compares to workers around the world, then you may be excited to check out UK website Global Rich List. The site might fulfill some of your curiosity, but that's not really its intention; the website's creators hope that realizing your relative wealth will prompt you to give to charity.

To see where you fall on the global rich list, enter your annual income and click the "Show me the money" button. Someone who earns $50,000 a year would fall in the 59,029,289th spot (out of 6.7 billion people), while someone who earns $200,000 would be in the 786,570th position.

The website then asks if you're richer than you think and says, "How do you feel about that? A bit richer we hope. Richer and ready to give some of your newly found wealth to those who need it most." Does the site make you want to give more?

If You Had Jolie-Pitt Kind of Cash, Where Would You Donate?

SavvySugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:30:26 -0700

The power couple of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is way more than a gorgeous, talented duo. They're known to support important causes, both domestically and around the world, often donating large (as in millions) sums of money when it feels right. If you had the kind of cash in the bank that could warrant exceptional monetary gifts to charities, where would you donate?

5 Charities That Support Our Troops

SavvySugar — Mon, 25 May 2009 07:30:55 -0700

If you'd like to honor the men and women who have served our country or are in the process of doing so, one way of giving back is to donate to a charity that supports our troops. Many military charities exist, but these five have been rated as some of the most efficient organizations. Can't afford to donate? Visit your local veteran's hospital for volunteer opportunities.

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Have You Made a Donation at the Grocery Store Checkout?

SavvySugar — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:30:01 -0700

On my recent trip to the grocery store, I swiped my card and the machine asked me if I'd like to make a donation to People With Disabilities. It's a smart way for charities to solicit donations because people are already spending money, and adding an extra $5 to the bill doesn't seem like much when you're already shelling out $100. Have you made a donation while checking out at the grocery store?

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Take a Charitable Note From Taylor Swift

SavvySugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:30:07 -0700

Famous or not, most women own at least one dress that hangs uselessly in our closets. Take a note from Taylor Swift and turn the seemingly good-for-nothing dress into a good act; the 19-year old singer donated her long cream and gold Jessica McClintock gown to DonateMyDress.org. I certainly don't have any prom dresses in my possession any longer, but I have a selection of worn-once bridesmaids dresses that could use a better home. You, too? Take the opportunity to do some charitable Spring cleaning.

DonateMyDress organizes donation drives across the country to collect dresses for girls who can't afford to buy something for their high school proms. Thinking back to those big June dances, I appreciate how fortunate I was to have a family that could afford extras like a prom dress. Not everyone is so lucky, so take a second to locate donation drives in your area and round up your best condition dresses that you're never going to wear again. Remember, hold onto any receipt you get for making the donation for next year's taxes and consider taking a picture.

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Tax Tip: Take Pictures to Track Your Donations

SavvySugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 07:15:40 -0700

When I sheepishly told my tax preparer that I'd misplaced my receipts for the donations I made to Goodwill throughout 2008, he gave me a good-willed evil eye and then offered a great piece of advice. He said that while he's claimed thousands and thousands of dollars in donations throughout the years, and never once has anyone come knocking for proof, but that not everyone is left unbothered.

He picked up a smart tactic from his clients, and I'm going to start using it the next time I have a donation bag ready to go: Take pictures of the items you donate and then upload the photos to your computer. Should anyone come asking for evidence, you have more than a receipt to support your story. When it comes to taxes, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

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Florida Couple Raffling Miami Condo Mostly For Charity

SavvySugar — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:30:53 -0800

A Florida couple is being creatively charitable in the raffle to sell their Miami Beach condo. The housing market has prevented Tim Suereth and Diane Thorne from selling their waterfront 850-square-foot condo, equipped with new floors, new cabinets, a pool, and a courtyard. So they came up with a bright idea to pay off their mortgage while raising money for a charity they organized for wounded war veterans.

Raffle tickets are being sold for $100, and if at least 5,000 tickets are sold, the condo will be "sold" to one ticket holder. If $500,000 isn't raised, they'll keep the condo and split the money between a winner and their charity, called Veterans Retreat. But if the minimum is met, the couple will use the $500,000 to pay off their mortgage and buy a retreat in the Florida Keys where wounded veterans can relax for free. What do you think of this concept?

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Your Two Cents: Girl Scout Cookie Pushing at the Office?

SavvySugar — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 07:15:34 -0800

It's cookie time! I don't know about you, but I love Girl Scout cookies - despite the expense. I buy my Thin Mints from the adorable troop posted outside of my Safeway (even on the coldest of days!), but many people buy their boxes from co-workers on cookie duty for their kids.

Some parents lug the boxes to work because their kids are too busy to go door-to-door, while others say it isn't safe for their daughters to sell boxes by knocking around the neighborhood. According to CNN, there are some co-workers who don't appreciate the pattern of parents doing the cookie pushing because they don't want to be bothered or they think it's unethical for the parents to make sales that determine which girls get prizes.

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