Do you budget extra charitable giving into the budget for the holidays? I'm just curious how others handle all the requests for charitable gifts during the holidays.

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (12 Years), Andrew (9 Years), Stephen (7 Years) and Emily (3 Years)

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We usually give thru our church, monetarily during the holidays, and then clothing, food and our time to other places like food banks, soup kitchens, shelters etc Otherwise, we give to our church weekly all year round. If there is a cause that "spoke" to us during the year, we'll often give to that as well...like Katrina, the Tsunami etc

The kids esp like the 'giving tree' at church where you pick a child's name and buy what's on the tag. We have changed churches and our new church has a lot of great things that they do, but they don't do a giving tree!

We give throughout the year, too. But, we do take a child from the Angel Tree for each of my children and one for my dh and myself. It is important to us to teach our children to give to others.

We also put together Christmas and/or Thanksgiving baskets. I need to be better about giving to the food pantry throughout the year. I know they need food more often when it isn't Thanksgiving or Christmas.

here is an idea if you don't have one yet and are looking for one_this is what we are going to do with our kids (we do it with just hubby and me now) anyways take the kids to the mall give them all money tell them that it is one of there christmas gifts, but that you are going to give it to someone who needs it more this year, you can do Opperation Christmas Child or the angel tree for salvation army, or go through a family that you know is in need, then have them buy something for someone that is the same age! it kinda gives you a chance to show them the true meaning of Christmas each year!!!

I love this idea and can't wait to do it with our little ones!!!

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Danielle

Our church participates in the Operation Christmas Child. The kids wrap shoe boxes in Sunday School and then I take them to the dollar store and let them pick out items for another child their own age.

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DS - 8
DD - 5

We do it through the schools.They ask for different things for the year and for families that go to the school too and those that can afford to help do.We always do.The kids love doing it and they know it will help some one at there school but they don't know who.

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Wife to Rick for 14 Years
Mom to 2 boys Dakota 13 & Ryan 9
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January Grocery Budget~$330.00

We also give throughout the year. But specifically during the the holiday season our church has a giving tree for members and we also get names from local community centers. We also donate money to the food shelf that we used when dh was unemployed. This year the older girls will also be giving via girl scouts. Both of their troops are shopping for xmas presents.
wanted to add that even if you can't buy presents for others, giving your used toys to Goodwill or other places is also very good. My mom used to shop for our presents there. used toys to shelters is also good. there is so many ways to give without giving money. having coffee with an elderly neighbor is another great one.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

Our budget is too tight to give a decent donation so we always put money in the salvation army kettles and then we take clothes, personal products and toys to the local womens shelter.

Charity starts at home. There are too many scams and freeloaders out there, I'd rather buy a Coach purse for my daughter.

We give monthly throughout the year to certain charities and contribute monthly to the food pantry at our church. During the holidays my children donate to every Salvation Army kettle they see. We also choose three angel tree tags (one for each of my children). This year we are donating a Thanksgiving dinner for at least one family along with turkeys and hams to be provide to families throughout the holidays.

As a family we struggled through some very difficult times in recent years. We are very blessed now as we were then.