Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Money_Fritter

Well I think that is great DoubleTrouble

:j:j:j

se999

I think that donating is still doing well in the UK even despite the recession, but the culture and different tax systems tend to mean it gets expressed in different ways. The Live Aid and Children In Need and sponsored runners in the various running events mean people are putting time and effort into supporting charities.

The National Trust is another prime example of a charity which shapes the English landscape as much as the US private museums shape US cities.

Titheing of 10% has very old roots, long preceding the formation of the US http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe I first heard about it because of the more evangelical christian groups starting to try to reinstate the jewish tradition.

Hope you find a charity you can support Firewalker.

hypno06

Don't forget, you can give time instead of or as well as money if that is more suitable for your circumstances/desires

se999

The other thing in the recession is that the charity shops are getting increased sales, but reduced donations of goods, so maybe the things that are cluttering the place that you don't have time to ebay/car boot could find a new home there. So giving possessions rather than cash.

hypno06

se999 wrote: »

The other thing in the recession is that the charity shops are getting increased sales, but reduced donations of goods, so maybe the things that are cluttering the place that you don't have time to ebay/car boot could find a new home there. So giving possessions rather than cash.

Oh yes, I have been doing a huge amount of this over the last few weeks!! And rather a lot more yet to go as well!!

Likewise, buying from the charity shops also helps satisfy the need.

se999

You started a good point about time Hypno. I do think that we can 'give' in a way by our lifestyle. Trying to reduce our enviromental impact is 'giving' to the planet, so eating more veggie meals, recycling more, and putting time and effort into these is also helping.

Also making the effort to chat to someone who obviously needs an outlet, even when you've got tons to do.

Little efforts add up and I do think it all helps to make a better place.

se999

Just remembered, if you are going to start regular giving especially (but it works for smaller gifts too), do look into Gift Aid, the charity if registered for it can reclaim the basic rate tax if you're a tax payer, there's more complicated bits for higher rate tax payers, but basically you give the same amount and the charity get more.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/giving/gift-aid.htm

savingwannabe

Conclusion: Man is not inherently selfish, not on MSE. Hooray.

Firewalker

Hey, what is happening - the party moved here this afternoon. Thanks for your reactions, guys.

DT - I am so impressed. We always do but not that much. In fact I have not sent Christmas cards for quite a few years - the money and some more goes to charity working to re-home homeless young people.

Se - thanks for all the information; I'll make good use of it, I promise.

Hypno - comletely right about donating time; in fact this might prove to be a much more dedicated way to give than simply give money.

MF - let me know how to donate when the time comes and please do train; riding 70 miles a day without training can be very painful.

SW - thanks for...for being you and being here, really.

Did you know (SW does) that although I usually run marathons for self-actualisation, I run the first Brightion marathon for the Alzheimer's society - raised over £700 and it felt good. I do smaller races for charity as well. But what I have come to realise is that it is not enough - not enough for the charities and not enough for me. Remember Mr. Big asked us to remember what we did when we were children? I did many things but two of them were to practice being a public intellectual (making people think and laugh while examplifying integrity) and spending all my pocket money on my friends and classmates.

Firewalker

Firewalker

Feeling very tired again – I suspect it is a combination between jet-lag and the general upheaval in the house. I find the latter particularly difficult to cope with. I can’t find anything, the house is covered in dust and there is no functioning shower (or bath for that matter).

On the positive, one piece of writing was finished and the other one will very soon be. Which is rather astounding, really – I can write, but I can’t do simple tasks like walk around without bumping into something, not drop all that can be dropped or for that matter cycle. Running has not been great either – all has to be coordinated with finding somewhere to have a shower. Frankly people reach a stage in their life when it is increasingly more difficult to take showers elsewhere. Little Boy was sent to my friend’s house for a shower tonight, mind – adults can go to the gym but he is still too poorly to go swimming.

The bathrooms are not going to be finished before the weekend – they will be some way towards it but not ready to use. And today I was told that the kitchen ceiling will have to be taken down before it can be done – imagine the mess this will create. OH has arranged for the ceiling to be done next Thursday when I’ll be in Brussels – I will have to leave the house before 7 am and will be back after 9 pm; which should be more than enough time to do what needs to be done. Selfish, I know – but it is a matter of self preservation.

Now, getting back to what this diary is really about – controlling money – I have to confess that I have not got very far with the second part of the equation – namely increasing one’s income. I did say some time ago that I think I did worked out the ten steps between an idea and its realisation – I will have another look at these and post them in their most rough form. I am hoping that I will get some feedback from people here that will help me move forward.

I think I did say that as part of MG’s Transatlantic Challenge OH and I did brainstorm ways to increase our income. I came up with about thirty things and he had done only about 8 – mind his were ‘realistic’ and most of mine were fairly ‘off the cuff’. I suppose we need something in between. I also mind-mapped possibilities when I was in Washington – and these are not mad but they will take quite a long time to achieve. Two things trouble me: 1) I am like a shark; I need to move to live but I have this feeling that nothing is moving very much; 2) and we need to jump-start the whole thing pretty soon if we are to start building something.

On the other hand, I have two member of my dream team – real life ones, I mean. I should go to bed now; I am not making sense even to myself.

And the saying for today is:

“Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollars. “ - Warren Buffett

Firewalker