Yesterday, I told you about our #TenDollarTribe initiative and encouraged those of you who had the wiggle room in your budget and felt the nudge in your heart to join us in this project to make a difference in South Africa.
A few people left comments bothered by the fact that I would encourage people to give money to a cause outside of the U.S.
Truth be told: I fully anticipated a little push back like this.
I don’t expect that everyone will jump on board with everything I’m excited about, nor do I assume that everyone is called to give outside the U.S.
And that’s the beauty of giving spirits. We aren’t all passionate about the same causes. We aren’t all supposed to invest in the same projects.
But we should all invest in something and in someone in some place — whether that’s in Haiti or New Hampshire or Africa or Arkansas. Whether that’s in your own home, down the street, across the country, or around the world.
We ALL have something to offer, something to give, and someone in our life who needs what we have to offer and give.
A few weeks ago, when I took a big leap out of my comfort zone, got on an 18-hour flight, and went to South Africa, many of you emailed in, commented, or told me personally that you wished you could have gone with me.
Some of you talked about how you wish you could make an impact, take a mission trip, or do something bold and brave like that.
While I think going on an international trip can be eye-opening and insightful, the thing is: You don’t need to go to South Africa to make a difference, have an impact, or be bold and brave.
Look around you and you’ll see many needs. You can’t meet them all. You aren’t supposed to meet them all.
But you can do what you can, with what you have, where you are. You can take what time and energy and skills you have and use them to bless someone in some way.
Here Are a Few Practical Ideas:
- Donate books to your local library, schools, or members in your community.
- If you are a coupon queen and have built a stockpile of toiletries, household products, or cleaning items, donate them to a family in need in your neighborhood or to a local shelter.
- Volunteer in your community. Whether that’s in the local soup kitchen, hospital, church, school, or charitable organization. {Visit VolunteerMatch.org to find opportunities near you.}
- Shop sales and clearance racks for significantly marked down merchandise you can donate to local families or organizations.
- Pick up prescriptions for elderly neighbors or ask them if they need someone to drive them to doctor's appointment or help with errands.
- Mow the lawn/weed the yard of a neighbor working multiple jobs.
- Supply freezer meals to a mother who just had a baby, a family who lost a loved one, or a neighbor who is sick.
- Donate your talents. For instance, if your hobby is photography, offer a financially struggling family a photo shoot.
- If you have a passion to sew or knit, make sweaters or scarves for a local shelter or hospital.
- Clean the house or do laundry for someone who is sick.
- Send a handwritten card to someone who is going through a difficult time.
- Smile and look for opportunities to encourage others with your words.
- Participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program to provide food for needy children in your local schools
- Make bags of food and hygiene products for the homeless.
Making a difference is going to look different to each and every person. We all have unique gifts, talents, abilities, and passions. We all have different capacities and callings.
But don’t let that hold you back from doing something. The world needs your gifts, your talents, and your willingness to start somewhere, step outside your comfort zone, and do something.
What creative ways are you reaching out and serving in your own community? I’d love to hear!
A testimony from ProteanMom.com.
Not long ago, we paid cash for a minivan using the Envelope Budgeting system. It was an exciting (and addicting) moment. We've been paying with cash ever since!
Our Fixer-Upper Home
We knew that we would need to replace our home's wood siding – eventually. Within a few months of buying our minivan, however, we realized that "eventually" had caught up with us. Our siding still looked good from a distance, but it was molding and rotting. At best, we had a year to save up for new siding.
We decided that this was our next big-purchase project. We also determined that this was a project that we did not want to do ourselves, which meant paying for labor on top of materials.
Adjusting the Budget
We put other projects on hold, scaled back on outings, and delayed fun purchases. It was hard, but we were diligent in putting any extra funds into that new siding envelope.
It helped that we knew we had to be good, because otherwise we'd also be paying for potentially massive interior repairs, too. By adjusting our budget, we knew that we would have almost enough money by our self-imposed year mark.
Wanting to avoid debt for siding, we tried hard to cut from other areas to save even more. It was hard to forego activities with friends and eating out, but we knew it would be worth it.
By the year mark, we were *so* close to our goal. Thankfully, my husband then got a larger than expected bonus at work. Putting that into our siding envelope, we would have enough money for siding *if* we could get a great bid.
Shopping Around to Hire a Contractor
We got bids from several different companies, and the bids ranged widely. The highest bid came in at more our minivan had cost us! We chose a reputable, but reasonably priced, company to install our new siding. Their quote was *just* under the amount we had saved!
We paid half up front (and the rest when they were done) and the company got to work.
They were shocked that we didn't need financing – or try pay with a credit card. In fact, they almost looked confused (but happy) to see a check! Our home ended up needing more siding than the contractor had originally thought, but this amazing company held to their quoted price.
They did an amazing job, our house looks great, the extra insulation lowered our power bill, and we stayed within our budget!
On to the Next Project…
Since the siding was done, we've moved into another home that's closer to family. Here, we're trying to decide which is next: replacing the roof or a getting a new-to-us car for my husband. It'll probably be the roof. Wish us luck!
Kim loves her life; she lives with her husband, their two boys, their dog, and is happily expecting boy #3. She writes about life as a ginger, geek, Doctor Who fan, triathlete, mom, wife, nurse, teacher, and more at ProteanMom.com.
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