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Go Give: The Art of Monetary Giving
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
By Tracey Ferdinand
Doesn’t it seem as though television shows and commercials today are saturated with information on the trendiest ways to “Go Green?” After years of taking from the planet and depleting its natural resources, our society has finally realized we need to stop. Scientists, politicians and everyday consumers have wised up to the idea of giving our time and resources to find ways to fix the mess we have created. This idea of giving in order to fix a problem can be translated into fixing our finances as well. Though giving may be the last thing one would think of doing when strapped for cash, wonderful and transformative things can happen when we make a habit of giving.
How can giving help your finances? The answer is pretty simple. Giving forces you to take a closer look at your finances. Any competent financial advisor will stress paying close attention to what is coming in and going out of your bank account. It is the first step to fixing your finances. In addition, you cannot give if you have nothing left after paying off car notes, mortgages, school loans and a long list of other expenses. But the desire to help another person in need can foster discipline in your spending habits. Finally, giving sets up the universe to help you receive. Have you ever given to someone only to receive what you have given tenfold? It happens!
On the road to wealth building, it is important to allocate a portion of what you earn to a “Go Give” fund. It is called a “Go Give” fund because it requires action. You want to get involved and become proactive in your giving. Instead of passively stuffing a check into an envelope, take some time to think about creative ways you can give your money. Here are some creative ways others give:
· I set up a creative writing award at my alma mater. After I graduated from college, my mail box was often flooded with requests from my school to donate money to their alumni fund. Instead of writing a check with no clue how my money was being used, I decided to turn my love of writing into an award for students who submitted pieces to the college literary magazine.
· A friend of mine gives to a child living in South America through a program called Children International. He sends and receives letters and pictures from the little boy every other month. It is extremely rewarding because he gets to keep in contact and see the impact his donations make on a regular basis.
· Another friend of mine sent an anonymous money order to a friend in need. Sometimes people are not eager to take money from others no matter how great their need. Giving to a friend anonymously is a great way to help while keeping the receiver’s pride intact.
In Thomas J. Stanley’s book, Millionaire Women Next Door, he notes that “giving and wealth are not mutually exclusive.” An entire section of the book is dedicated to discussing the benevolent nature of millionaire women. One point that stood out in Stanley’s research was that “self-made millionaire women who are business owners give more than three times the percentage of their incomes to their relatives than do men.” Women have a tremendous capacity to empathize with the needs of others. So why not channel this trait to help not only others but yourself as well?
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