How much do you give to charity?

clairehi

My OH has signed us up for various charity direct debits over the years and we now give about £45 a month in total to the following charities:
NSPCC, Oxfam, National Deaf Childrens Soc, Amnesty, Macmillan, Red Cross, British Legion.

However we are now looking at tightening our belts and wondering whether to reduce payments.

I feel bad about it to be honest as I know charities are having a hard time at the moment. And at the same time, we (or rather OH) spend a lot on things like Sky which he has said he is not prepared to stop.

How much do other MSErs give to charity, and what would you prioritise charitable donations above?

ddebski_us

We give £4 pcm to WWF and then sponsor friends/colleagues etc during the year and put change in collections pots too.

xDx

Hermia

I give £15 to my local hospice each month and other bits and bobs throughout the year. I can't afford much more, but I do think it's important to help others. If you are struggling financially remember that you can do other things to help. E.g. I do various crafts. When I have not been able to afford to give money to the hospice I have got together all my left-over cardmaking stuff and made cards for the hospice to sell in their shop. Last time I managed to make 40 cards just with oddments and the shop sold them for a couple of quid each! My mum collects all her 1ps and 2ps in a jar and then gives the proceeds to her local charity.

It's hard to know where to put charity in the priority list. If you are really struggling than the charity payments do need to be put on hold. It's important to enjoy your life so I wouldn't cancel your OH's Sky subscription if he really loves it. But if you are frittering away money on lots of things you don't really need than I would try and cut one of those instead.

hethmar

We have about £20 a month DDs between us, mostly animal charities.

lucylucky

I give time and money, not enough of either but as much as I can afford.

Doozergirl

I give £20 in total to four charities each month.

When I think about them individually and the money I spend on rubbish each month, I couldn't bring myself to cancel. Two charities are very close to my heart; I wanted to give to a children's charity as well and the other one I got hooked into but it struck a chord with me.

pigpen

I donate all our unwanted/outgrown stuff to the shops to be sold I don't have the cash or time spare to give so I do my bit this way. .. it might not be much but it all helps so they say!

clairehi

Hermia wrote: »

if you are frittering away money on lots of things you don't really need than I would try and cut one of those instead.

trouble is mine and OHs definition of "need" is quite different :rotfl: but thats a whole other thread!

pinknfluffy0

No money I dont have enough.

I do run a childrens camp every year though

Kate78

£5.00 per month in direct debits.

Unwanted clothes, books etc to charity shops.

Odd pound here and there to tin rattlers (people that are obviously doing it on their own time - not the chuggers!).

Sponsor friends and family as and when.

neneromanova

I don't give anything to any charities as I have read up on each of these charities. If I could give the £5 a month straight to the hands of the starving child then I would gladly give money.

I do give unwanted items to charity shops though