When was the last time you were asked to make a donation? Yesterday? Last week? Was it today? Many of us with children find that every time we turn around we are being asked to make a donation, contribute items, get involved with a fundraiser or support one cause or the other. Many of these fundraisers involve not only our money, but our time—we may be asked to sell candy bars for the band or baseball team, organize a charitable auction or help out at the annual charity event (in addition to making a financial contribution as well.) What this can lead to is serious fundraiser overload.
About two years ago, I got so tired and frustrated with the constant asks for donations and fundraisers that I took a break. I just decided I would go cold turkey and then make conscious decisions about who I wanted to give to. This also allowed me to develop a budget for my charitable contributions and decide where I wanted to spend my time too. It can be tough as a parent since you want to give and support all those “good causes” but before you know it, you are drained both financially and in spirit. There can also be a great deal of peer pressure and coercion from the school, other parents, or whomever trying to force you into giving money or time.
As a single parent, my budget just cannot take constant, unplanned charitable giving. Now, I have chosen a couple causes that I feel very strongly about and I have set up monthly deductions for my annual donation. I have also allotted a certain amount per month that is available for donations if I so choose and this works well for the kids’ fundraisers. The hard thing to do is to let go of the guilt. If you know you are doing what you can and are involved on whatever level you can be, try to let go of the guilt or try to block the pressure when it comes your way. You are not obligated to give just because you are asked and you can teach your children about conscious and conscientious giving and volunteering.
See Also: The MONEY Blog