How to Make Charitable Giving a Priority

Giving to those less fortunate is a great way to help you feel even more blessed this holiday season.  At a time when kids have presents on the brain, helping those in need is a great way to teach them that it's more important to give than to receive.  Even if you have less money in the bank, there are ways to give of your time and talents.  You'll feel richer for doing it.

Sometimes charitable giving can feel difficult to impossible to those on a tight budget.  However, there are still ways to make it happen.  If you created your holiday budget in this exercise here, you already calculated how much you can realistically afford this holiday season.

The next step is to challenge yourself and your family to come in under budget this Christmas and use the extra money you've saved to put towards a donation to your charity of choice.

Giving Locally:

• Donate gently used books and board games to organizations such as childrens' hospitals, Ronald McDonald's Houses, shelters, or bring them to your local Social Services office

• Donate extra food to your local food pantry

• Bring gently used coats, hats and mittens to a homeless shelter

• Make a donation to your child's classroom

• Bring a hot meal to a family in need

• Host a holiday party and collect donations for the local charity of your choice

Popular Holiday Charities:

• Angel Tree – Provides gifts and assistance to the children and families of prisoners  It Starts with a Gift. But It's So Much More.

• Make-A-Wish – Grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions Make-A-Wish Foundation: National Home Page

• My Two Front Teeth – Provides holiday gifts to children through individual sponsorship opportunities MyTwoFrontTeeth.org's Online Holiday Wish Tree Helps Brighten the Holidays for Disadvantaged Kids

• Operation Christmas Child – Helps needy children internationally with shoe box donations containing toys, toiletries, and school supplies Operation Christmas Child

• Toys for Tots – Provides new gifts for needy children Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

Are YOU up for the challenge?  Simply by looking for deals and bargain shopping, you're able to give more to others this Christmas.  Visit our daily deals blog, read our homemade gift ideas, and you'll find many suggestions on how to spend less and GIVE MORE this holiday season.