Wait a minute before you buy that **dog toy** **movie ticket** **toothpaste** **__fill in__**
It's easy to make little charitable contributions this time of year. Change for the bellringers? check. Holiday card to the soldiers? check. As I go through my list of gifts to buy, though, I can EXPLODE my charitable giving without spending a penny more.
Here's how:
1. School Gift Card Fundraiser. Both our middle and high schools sell gift cards that they receive a percent of the cost. Some of the percents are pretty high (pushing 10%). I was going to give at least a couple as gifts, and obviously it would be an easy matter to get the cards from the school.
OK, that's one contribution. But hike it a step. Are you going to donate to a toy drive? or a food collection? Buy the gift card and use it yourself to buy the toy or canned food, along with your regular purchases.
BAM. You just contributed to your school AND to a needy person.
Look over the list of gift cards the school sells, what might you use to buy things for an animal shelter? library? a relative or family in need???
Big 5 Sport
Chevron
CVS
Home Depot
JCPenney
Lowes
Michaels
Old Navy
Office Depot
Whole Foods
Payless Shoes
Sears
Sams Club
Pier 1
Petsmart
Sports Authority
Subway
Target
ToysRUs
Major Grocery Chains
2. Turn-key to Charity. Turn-key means designing and building by the same party. Using this concept, how about buying from charity and donating the item to another? Example: how many toy drives are out there? Gazillion, right? One of my kid's school is giving a phys ed class 'pass' if they bring in a toy donation. So I purchased a new toy from a church-collective shop and am giving it for her to donate.
BAM. I did it again. 2 organizations benefit from that fairly small purchase of mine.
I know you are counting your dollars (I definitely am!) so make them do overtime. Everytime you decide what to buy as a gift, think of ways to buy it that do TONS of good.
Back again later with tales of my local purchases, hand made independent purchases and more.
Cocoa Shell Earrings
Warm coins of abalone have a pretty gold wave and a plump pearl drop. Just another great choice in my
Thanks from The Frugal Artisan!
December 6th, 2012 at 10:41 pm 1354833718
December 6th, 2012 at 10:50 pm 1354834204
December 7th, 2012 at 04:08 am 1354853322
I wish ALL the schools around here and/or the ones my nephews attend would sell ONLY gift cards. Far more useful than candy, candles, wrapping paper and all the other WAY overpriced crap. Fundraiser or not.
December 7th, 2012 at 05:13 pm 1354900414