Giving Feels Great!

It's true! Giving does feel great. We recommend trying it out for yourself when you have the ability to do so. This year, on top of our annual donations through work, we decided to give a little more of not only our money, but time. And, it was even more fun to involve our son. He is learning the importance of helping others.

One of our projects was for our local food bank. We purchased items to make three complete Turkey Dinners for families in need. This was a project to teach our son of how lucky he is to have what he does and to never take it for granted. And, to show him how it feels to help others in need. He really got into the whole process.

In the end, our food bank ended up getting more dinners that what was needed locally and was able to share with families in other counties.  And, A is now volunteering his time for the food bank.  He does weekend pick ups at local restaurants. 

All of the food for the dinners. 

Another giving project we did this year was all about our boy.  In a previous post where we discuss our son and Financial Peace, Jr., we mention that he has to put at least a quarter in his Give envelope each week.  Halfway through the year, he had seen a commercial for the ASPCA and asked why the animals were so sad.  After a discussion about why some animals do not have homes, he told us he wanted to save his Give money for the "puppies and kitties with no homes".  We agreed to match whatever amount he had saved by the end of the year.  The time came and he had $14.00 in his envelope, so we gave him the other half and headed to Costco for some shopping.  I contacted our local Humane Society and told him about what he had to donate and how hard he had worked to save up for the treats.  They were so impressed by his generosity that they offered a behind the scenes look of the shelter, so he could see some of the animals he would be helping.

 All of the treats he was able to purchase. 

 Putting his donations under the shelter's tree. 

One last way that I like to give is randomly paying it forward to a stranger.  I cannot tell you how good it feels to purchase the coffee of the person behind you in the drive thru!