Figuring Out What Do with Money I Don't Want

If you're earning it ... how does it not belong to you? you're working for it.

Anyway here's what I would do with it in order:

1. Pay off bills (credit, cars, extra on house payment)
2. College fund for kids
3. Retirement account
4. Savings account in case of income loss for some reason.
5. Other Charities.

But that's just me :) Lots of options for charities, but I'd start with local charities.

You can donate it to a relief fund you feel strongly on. You can start a local charity group, or maybe donate it to a different needy shelter family. You can also adopt an angel at Christmas, two weeks would make for an awesome Christmas for someone.

I really like Medecins sans Frontiers. I feel that this organisation helps the most desperate of the desperate in the world.

God has shown me several times when someone really needed it. I say you save it until you just know in your spirit. You just never know when you can be a blessing to someone at a time when something unexpected happens.

Put it in your IRA B.. Everyone gets old.. and you don't want to be a burden to your kids... Donate half and put the rest in your retirement fund, or open a savings account for the kids. When they have kids of their own... you have money to spend on them or your grand children...

I am all for charity, but, like the old saying goes... charity begins at home.

Suzie says you need to have at least 6 months salary in the bank as an emergency fund in case one of you looses their jobs, or for a medical emergency. That is some good advice right there!

I went to look at your profile and couldn't learn anything about you. It appears, from your questions, you are 28, have at least two kids and may be expecting another.

It looks like you are teaching pre-school or are contemplating teaching preschool. It also looks like you are going to buy another vehicle to transport your family.

First, you should up date your profile so we can tell something about you.
Second, I feel the Good Lord helps those that help themselves.
Third, The greatest work you will ever accomplish will be within the walls of your own home

Use the $60 per week to pay off your bills so you will be debt free. As you are doing this, look for ways to help your fellow man close to where you are. Mom's or dad's struggling to find work often have tremendous difficulty finding day care they can afford. Using the extra money you have to support someone getting back on their feet and assisting them by watching their kids or breaking the cycle of poverty by giving their kids a good start on life by giving them an education would make the money go the farthest and accomplish the most good.

Good luck to you and yours.

There is probably enough need in your own community and $60 a week would be very helpful to a family in need. Check with your local churches or shelters.

Blessings......

Hmmm.
My address is........

Seriously, contact your local fire department. They are involved in funds for so many things from Toys for Tots to organizations that help children who are disfigured from burn injuries.
The "Make a Wish" Foundation is another good one.
Here is a link for an organization started by Dolly Parton to promote reading for poor children in Appalachia, U.S.
http://news.tn.gov/node/4765

$60/week can do a lot of good in this world.
Bless you for sharing your good fortune. You know it will come back to you many times over.

Best wishes.

I would put it in a separate savings account and after my research, I would decide where it would be best used. Until then, it is being saved and not sent to some agency you don't know much about or where it is not properly used.

We tend to support the local women's shelter because most of the women left their homes with their children and the clothes on their backs.

I personally would keep it local in my community vs sending it off where you have no idea what happens to it. You may think you are sending it to a great charity but there are alot of scams out there.

I know first hand how much it is a blessing for someone to buy the kids presents for Christmas through the angel program. It is hard when someone takes the angel and buys one thing and another person takes one of the other kid and buys a lot. So please, do the angels program. If it says several things on the list then buy it all, they really do have a wish and don't expect it to come true.

So many kids have no Christmas without it.

I think I would put the money to work in my own community to help others. There are plenty of needs right here and you would have more control of how that money gets spent. Mission Arlington, Salvation Army and other organizations sponsor Angel Trees and they could give you an idea of other worthwhile projects you wish to support. Or if you have time, use it to support your volunteer efforts-do you like to read to kids? Go to a low income elementary school and volunteer to read to a class. Buy each child a book to take home, since many do not have any books in their home. Save up the $240 each month and then decide what to do to bless others. That is a nice thing to do.

Uh... You could give it to me! :P

Check out "Smile Train".

For sixty dollars a week, think of all the people you could help. It's my honest belief you should help what is close to your heart (because God will put it there) and what you see before your eyes. What needs help in your community?

And from my own heart, I wish there were an agency that would help very low income families that have a child with special dietary needs. My family receives food stamps, but it's not taken into consideration the fact that one of our children has an extremely strict (and expensive) diet and I just wish there were an agency that would provide me with a few of the special items I need to cook for her that cost too much. So maybe consider donating "specialty" items to food shelves, after speaking with a director to ensure that they'll go to people who need them. (Dairy free, gluten free, etc.)

I would do the christmas angels thing or give it to a battered women's shelter or food pantry. food pantrys are really hurting right now. with the economy they are serving roughly double the amount of people of past years.

Put it in a separate account. Let it grow. You could donate it to your local high school band -- they always need money. You can designate the gift for instruments or music if you desire. Instruments are extremely expensive - especially the large percussion instruments and large brass. I am SURE they'd love to receive a gift...
If they don't want it, our high school band program sure could use it!
LBC

This sounds like a "my diamond tiara is too heavy and my ruby slippers are too tight" dilemma. :-/

Put it in a college fund for your children. Put it in a rainy day savings account in case you or your husband lose your jobs or you end up with a huge car repair bill or home repair bill or some other huge expense. And don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I like all of your ideas. Just spend some time thinking about the things in the world for which you want to have a positive impact. I would love to see sex slavery wiped out. Just thinking about it gives me the chills.

One of my favorite causes is a literacy group that identifies families who want to move toward greater literacy. The group supplies the family with a minimum of 100 books, which is the number of books determined to help kids have access to books and identify themselves as readers. Think of books that would be useful for an entire family, such as a dictionary, world atlas, and picture encyclopedia of animals, as well as books for bedtime reading and pleasure. Ask a librarian or employees at a book store if you are unfamiliar about such a group in your community. Or you could adopt a classroom and supply its Sustained Silent Reading time shelves.

You may find that you will enjoy the impact you are making if you can witness the positive outcomes. Think local.

Go to the World Vision website and click "sponsor a child" or "sponsor a hope child" to see the profiles of children that are available for someone to sponsor for $35 a month. My 9 year old did this and now wants to sponsor a child as her Christmas present. It is hard not to fall in love with some of those faces. And it is amazing how $35 can drip through our fingers...or save a life!

What's your "thing"? What do you "have a heart" for?
Food pantries, homeless shelters, human trafficking, pet rescues?

Just give to the cause YOU feel is most worthy!

It's over $3K per year so it will certainly do some good.

Have you ever heard of Heifer International?
www.heifer.org
A gift of livestock can change a family forever!

do you think the money you are receiving was taken from somebody in particular? if yes then maybe give it back to them

otherwise you have lots of great suggestions

Another vote for Smile Train! The people say that God helps those who help themselves have never seen little ones who have no hope other than from an outside source.

Your heart to help other people is wonderful. I invest in my community on a regular basis where I can donate my time as well as my money but giving money to a reputable agency that can help people who have no hope is FANTASTIC.
No matter what you decide, people will benefit from you and your husbands compassion.

You might look at giving to FINCA which gives "microloans" to 3rd world entrepreneurial woman, allowing them, by their own work, to bring their families out of poverty (it's a "hand-up not a hand-out" kind of thing).

Or, Heifer International is another excellent one, which focuses on livestock and education on animal husbandry to allow families to get out of poverty. Heifer Intl requires that the participants pass on the gift (if they have chickens, they give some of the chicks to a neighbor or struggling family and teach them how to care for the animals; they do all kinds of animals, ducks, geese, llama, goat, oxen, dairy cows, pigs, etc.).

Or, give locally to your local shelter/food bank and know that you're helping your own neighbors.

You have gotten great suggestions. I would, however, keep the $$ focused on one or maybe 2 charities to have the greatest impact:)
Maybe even choose one for the first half of year and another for the second.
What a blessing you all are to those in need here or abroad!!

I think it is great you are giving back... I would suggest picking something local that you feel strongly about, something that really touches your heart ... Only you know what that would be... If you choose something local then you can see the benefit your money provides first hand ...

You have some great responses. I'd like to offer a little read. Read a book titled The Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright. It's very short and can be read in the bathroom. :) My friend read it in 2 hours. Be sure and let us know what you decide.

I think you should research the idea with where ever you think you'd like to donate. Pick something that is near and dear to your heart and meaningful to you. There are thousands of organizations out there with good causes

My only other suggestions are see how much of your money will actually go to who you want, not bogged down in administrative fees or marketing.

Personally I like organizations that save PEOPLE and hit closer to home. I certainly don't want to see the spotted owl go extinct or anything, but I'm more inclined to choose organizations that help in my own neighborhood/community and the people here. I think of it as a ripple effect, if I take care of the people in my backyard and you do in yours and everyone else did the same we wouldn't have to worry about starving people anywhere because we'd all be contributing. You could also go a see a local group, like food pantry and soup kitchen by helping there before you decide to donate financially.

If you are looking for an organization with national/world ties so that people will get emergency relief when it's needed the most, then why not something like the American Red Cross?