Money Saving Tip: Save on Entertainment Expenses While also Doing Good

Here's a money saving tip that not only allows you to save on what can be an expensive night on the town (dinner, a movie and babysitting can run $50 to $75 alone), but also spend some quality time with your family while helping those less fortunate:

Spend an evening gathering items for a donation box to give to a local relief organization or volunteer as a family at a soup kitchen.

We do this every year around Christmas, though in a bit of a different manner. We get a catalog from a charitable organization and each of us is given (by me and my wife) items we can "buy" for people who are less fortunate (we can buy three chickens for $10, medical supplies for $15, a well in a village for $75, etc. -- there are probably 50 different choices). Each person looks over the catalog, decided how to spend his/her money, and shares it with the group. It's great fun, a learning experience (the kids have to add up their purchases to see if they've spent all their money), teaches us all to think of others, and is much less expensive than going out.

Comments

[Tim]

That sounds like an interesting alternative. I don't think I'd rather buy someone a well than enjoy a night on the town though. Also, if you're spending money on stuff for other people I don't think you're technically saving any money.

However, philanthropy is always a good thing. This last Christmas my grandma donated money to a couple organizations instead of buying me something I don't need.

[FMF]

Tim -- We took the money for the gifts from our giving budget. It was already allocated to be given away -- we just needed to decide where to give it -- so there was no incremental expense of this event.