Beggars on holiday - a suggestion

Reaper

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has struggled with their conscience when visiting a third world country on holiday and seen desperate looking beggars.

In this country I know beggars are not going to starve, but abroad they can genuinely be in a bad way with no NHS, pension or benefits to keep them alive.

The trouble is you don't know which ones are genuinely in trouble and whether giving them money is really helping in the long term or just encouraging others to beg too. So after much soul searching I settled on a solution a few years back which others might find helpful too.

On holiday I give nothing to beggars. Instead when I return I calculate how much the holiday has cost - flights, accommodation, all my spending money and anything I bought for the trip. Then I give 10% of that to an international charity (Save the Children).

This has several advantages -
1) the money is targeted to those genuinely in need.
2) it is likely to get people off the streets rather than encourage begging.
3) you can give as gift aid meaning the government is giving your tax to the charity too.
4) you give more than you would ever have given to beggars so you can enjoy your holiday guilt-free.

Once you add it up you will be surprised how much you spend on a holiday and 10% seems a lot when you get back, so I don't always pay up straight away. However pay it as soon as you can and certainly before you allow yourself another holiday. And remember it is only a tenth, if you could afford the holiday you can afford that.

I hope others will join me. If everybody gave 10% of their holiday money to charity we could make a big difference.

sloppychops

I dont mind giving money to charity but what gets me is a large percentage of what you give does not actually go to them(in alot cases) it goes to the big wig sitting at his desk doing nowt and raking in a large wage every week.

Reaper

A good reason to pick your charity with care, although most are not as bad as you think.

For example for every £1 given to my favourite charity, Save the Children, spends:
81p on aid
13p on fundraising
6p on expenses

Since gift aid means the government is adding 25% (or whatever your tax rate is) more than £1 is being spent on aid.

Details here.