Feel forced to pay?

Barneysmom

I recently put £10 into the Help For Heroes, into the Major Phil Packer marathon. I was utterly moved by what he's done and felt it was a hugley worthwhile cause.
I also recently donated £60 to the NSPCC as some of my family were doing the 3 peaks challenge to raise funds.

I'm fine with that, my choice and all that.

But I just got an email from Justgiving.com via another family member who is doing the Race For Life.
I know it's a worthwhile cause but I feel that I have to put money into it.
I've put a tenner in but where's the limit, what if I get another email, tomorrow, the next day?

naijapower

Barneysmom wrote: »

I recently put £10 into the Help For Heroes, into the Major Phil Packer marathon. I was utterly moved by what he's done and felt it was a hugley worthwhile cause.
I also recently donated £60 to the NSPCC as some of my family were doing the 3 peaks challenge to raise funds.

I'm fine with that, my choice and all that.

But I just got an email from Justgiving.com via another family member who is doing the Race For Life.
I know it's a worthwhile cause but I feel that I have to put money into it.
I've put a tenner in but where's the limit, what if I get another email, tomorrow, the next day?

think it is a good cause

GiveItBack

Hiya sendacow - not sure that that''s the issue here for the OP. WHile I think that you guys are pretty transparent, and I think all charities should be transparent, I think the issue here is of obligation. If a friend asks you, it's harder to refuse - which is fine but there can be a lot of things at one time, which can be a struggle.

IO think the OP just needs to be comfortable with how much they give - perhaps set aside a certain amount each month / year, and once that has been donated to worthy causes, then there's no more.

How much this amount is, varies from person to person, but once I start my new job, it's part of my plan. I'd like to give 10% of my income, but I have a lot of urgent bills to soort first, so I think I'll have to build up to it.

The beauty of choosing a set amount is that you are supporting people, you can sponsor friends etc, but you don't feel bad about saying 'sorry, I can only give you xx' or 'sorry, i give a certain amount each month, and I've reached the limit for this month', because you know you're doing good already.

(I would add though that it helps to support charities that appreciate your support and show where the gift is going)

Barneysmom

GiveItBack, you hit the nail on the head, thanks for being understanding.
I would love to cure all the ails of the world, but in reality none of us have got that kind of money?


I'll go back to what I used to do, a tenner a month between the PDSA and the Air Ambulance, and that's my lot.

Trouble is then I'll feel guilty if anybody I the family does an event?

I certainly won't be sendingacow. I'm afraid the days of me sending any money to Africa are long gone.

GiveItBack

Have to agree Barneysmom - and I work for a charity..

The thing is, there are 190,000 registered charities in England and wales alone, how much would you need to earn to give £1 a year?

Pick an amount and stick to it. I used to give £50(ish) a month, half in regular giving (DD), and half more ad hoc. Sometimes I'd keep some back and use it the following month, usually, it would go to an interesting or urgent appeal, or sponsoring people.. When I restart work I want to bump it up a bit, but everyone has their own situations costs expenses and so on.

I think this method could work for everyone, although the amounts will vary.

Barneysmom

Thank you, there are a lot of lovely generous people donating to charitites aren't there, maybe they should all get together, under various headings like children, disabled or ill, homeless, and animals.
Then divide what they can to where they can?
There'd be a bit less beaurocracy all round?

I dunno. :D

KimYeovil

What do you mean by family? You give money to your children (or grandchildren) if they are doing a sponsored event. That is where it ends. Adults should not be engaged in sponsored rubbish - too much and too many of the funds involved end up in the hands of the professional event organisers.

If my relatives want to go for a jog or go on an adventure holiday then they can darn well pay their own way.

Barneysmom

I don't see why adults should be excluded from sponsored events?
What about Major Phil, all that work he's doing to raise funds for Help For Heroes? Are you saying he shouldn't be allowed?
I don't understand what you mean, what about the Race For Life, and all the mountain climbing and cycling people do?
If they just did it for themselves I'm sure charities would suffer in the end.

Hermia

Barneysmom wrote: »

But I just got an email from Justgiving.com via another family member who is doing the Race For Life.
I know it's a worthwhile cause but I feel that I have to put money into it.
I've put a tenner in but where's the limit, what if I get another email, tomorrow, the next day?

I think you just have to decide how much you are giving and who to and stick to it. I have 22 friends who do the race for life and it's an absolute nightmare. I have two charities I support and I cannot possibly sponser 22 people as well. One year I could only afford £10 so I said I'd just give it to one person as it seemed silly giving 22 people a small amount. Some friends said that was fine as it was all going to the same cause, but others got a bit sniffy about it. Grrrr!

GiveItBack

KimYeovil wrote: »

too much and too many of the funds involved end up in the hands of the professional event organisers.

.

Oh absolutely. Far better that no company organises anything and charities don't raise anything.

Savvy_Sue

Hermia wrote: »

I think you just have to decide how much you are giving and who to and stick to it. I have 22 friends who do the race for life and it's an absolute nightmare. I have two charities I support and I cannot possibly sponser 22 people as well. One year I could only afford £10 so I said I'd just give it to one person as it seemed silly giving 22 people a small amount. Some friends said that was fine as it was all going to the same cause, but others got a bit sniffy about it. Grrrr!

I don't know about you, but I'd remember who was fine and who was sniffy, and guess who'd be getting my sponsorship the following year? :rotfl: