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I'm not sure if Give to The Max Day is everywhere but it is in Minnesota. It's a day focused to prompt a day of financial giving to nonprofit organizations that appeal to our values and hopes. Depending on resources, there sometimes are matching dollars, or drawings for matches. I help promote but usually make my donation directly to the organizations I support. Still it's a great idea. If you are looking to make an effortless donation, it's a good place.
I practice thrift, some days better than others, but with an eye to doing more with our salaries. This includes charitable giving. Did I have any success in thriftiness of time, resources, or money? Here's my short list. Some things might seem repetitive or I may expand tomorrow or Saturday.
- Used layered discount codes for Christmas photo cards, plus prints of the snapshots we got when DS was home. More on my Christmas card philosophy tomorrow.
- While not professional, I'll have a new photo of the five of us to put in the dining room. The next time we're all together, I'd like a professional or at least one from someone with a good camera and eye. This too was ordered with coupons.
- In the theme, I saved myself at least an hour and ordered mailing return address labels at 60% off.
- Used leftover chili in the two dishes mentioned yesterday in My Wednesday Pantry.
- Picked up loss leaders at local grocery store for side dishes for next weekend. I froze the amount of mushrooms I'll need for making the sauce for green bean casserole.
- Uploaded Fetch points and there's was a bonus 300 on Saturday.
- Played the MS Rewards trivia earning more points towards gift cards to Target.
- Passed on buying more Christmas decor, even though I saw some really sweet things. I plan to let my daughter use anything from my stash she'd like. Her house will have a quintessential Midwest Christmas feel once a few decorations are put up. She has quite a bit herself.
- In cleaning fridge and freezer, found several items I forgot were on hand to put on the menu this week.
- Kept heat low and used sweaters and slippers for extra warmth. I actually love keeping the house coolers and adding layers...to a point.
- Used Amazon $3 voucher towards more boxes with lids. If I can t get DH to purge, at least I'll have his stuff boxed and ready when he has time in retirement to do a proper job. Same for my college daughter and clothes stored under her bed in boxes.
- I did probably a final $2 opinion survey. The only good text I get about politics.
- I used a box of Garnier Nutrisse to cover the grays myself. My hair is slowly back to the lighter brown I aged into before the grays started, then colored too light. It's not perfect like a salon would be, but after a haircut sometime this week, I'll feel less grouchy about my appearance. Letting myself go too long with little haircare has likely impacted my mood.
Nothing exciting; no found windfall, and no slot playing like my sister. I think as most of you likely do that the small economies add up, and it helps give the cushion to do more with our money.
Yay for updated family photos on a dime! I don’t think PA has a giving day, but my friends and I decided instead of gifts that we would donate to a local animal shelter. We did this last year as well and just do a simple ornament exchange instead to have something small to unwrap and feel festive. I will try to resist buying decor as well, we have more than enough. I’ve been slacking on receipts and should probably add it to my list of things to do today. I stacked coupons at Kohls for several gifts. I plan on deep cleaning most of the day and may reward myself with a trip to Starbucks (it’s red cup day and I have gift cards) and Goodwill later. JoAnn
ReplyDeleteI can't forget my Kohl's $10 birthday reward. It's always a nice bonus to use this time of year.
DeleteEvery little penny counts. I had to re-do my budget due to my upcoming time off for medical reasons. But honestly, in light of recent developments, it's time for me to start living life.
ReplyDeleteI know your priorities have had to change. Remember how well you did, and focus on your health and wellness. Yes, you deserve joy too with your money.
DeleteYou had a lot of wins this week! For giving, I'm giving to the International Justice League, through a campaign at work, that has a pool of folks who will triple match the offer. They were in my giving plans for the year anyway, so I'm happy to see my donation amplified even more. I'm also volunteering at a food pantry this week, in the spirit of giving time as well as money.
ReplyDeleteWe're working to try & just monitor our spending as much as possible, and cut back on unnecessary expenses. This is an expensive time of year anyway, so anything we can do to trim things back is useful.
The food shelf is always a priority, plus the sick drives. Getting a match does feel like giving is stretched. I don't think I'll have extra volunteer time, but I'd have liked to.
DeleteYour giving event is just a MN thing it seems. Over the years we have donated(gifts in kind or cash)to many causes. In retirement we'll be pulling back on that as the income has shrunk greatly and we are in the phase of life where we need to focus on us. And now I have no Rite-Aid so I can't justify all those giveaways either. Life moves on.
ReplyDeleteLife changes and we all give as we feel able to. I'll build my donation's into retirement budget, but as our income will be aligned to expenses, probably not going to be able to increase from current levels post retirement.
DeleteBuying new Christmas decorations is so tempting isn't it, especially since they have such lovely stuff. As time goes on I find I'm happy with the usual stuff I put up right now so I'll be giving my "leftovers" (which are still very nice) to goodwill this week!
ReplyDeleteI have bins upon bins of decorations accumulated over my lifetime. It's hard to say no more, but so far I have!
DeleteEverything about Christmas is so pretty this year, I have to slap my hands and say NO!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's tempting us so early, and me missing my kids- it would be gratification. But no. I have enough.
DeleteAll those small things add up to a lot, so good for you. Megan.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the little things do keep us moving towards our plan of him retiring in 9 months.
DeleteThere's a Giving Tuesday here in Wisconsin where I live. Different name, same idea. I've been watching my food/household needs closely, trying to get that under more control.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking at all the ways dollars leak out. We can't help inflation but we can close leaks.
DeleteI see so many pretty decorations! But, so far have not succumbed to stores or Amazon. The thing I really want is a couple of reindeers that are lit and sit in the yard, the wire kind you can sort of see through.. They are so expensive. I had one I bought for $1 at a yard sale, and that is gone. I am going forward with my Pink Purse charity.
ReplyDeleteI have those deer, but they are hard to set up, and so only used a few times. I wonder about your purse charity and if donating the same amount spent to a food shelf or women's shelter might be more sustaining. But, if it gives you joy to find a random person to gift it too, no arguments from me. I see it more gifting than charitable giving.
DeleteWe are at the time of the year when we make our decisions about charitable contributions. And the requests are flooding in as they usually do.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter's college has to back off a bit. Three missed calls yesterday from their development office. The requests and needs are high. I scrimped a bit in other areas to top off a few donations.
DeleteWe have a couple of charity events here every year. The current one is Children in need and millions of pounds are raised. I think people will be less generous this year due to the current financial situation.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and people that previously might have donated might be in need. I'm trying to have my family step up a bit. That's a big reason I try and watch the little things.
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