Pimp Your Finances

I recently did something I’ve never done before: donate money to charity.

My wife and I took a different approach to Christmas this year.  In years past, we set a limit on gifts for each other, and then we would inevitably exhaust the entire amount.  Instead of trying to find the perfect gift (regardless of cost), we spent it all out of fear that the other would spend more.

This year, instead of setting even a small limit, we made a donation to charity – something neither of us had done before.

We’re animal enthusiasts (now 4 dogs, 2 cats), so we decided to make a donation to the local branch of the Humane Society.  On Christmas eve, we walked in and surprised the receptionist by asking to make a donation.  She was caught off guard, but very appreciative.

They gave us a receipt to use on our taxes (which will help us get back between 25%-33% of the donation), but that’s not the reason we did it.

We knew they were in need, and wanted to help.  They’re so stretched that they may have to start putting down healthy animals just because they’re overcrowded.

This was hard for us to stomach.  All our dogs came from the Humane Society, and they have been wonderful additions to our home.  The amount of happiness, joy, and entertainment they bring to our lives is unbelievable.  We couldn’t stand the thought that other dogs may not get a chance simply because the shelter is out of room.

So after we made a donation, we took a look at the dogs.  They showed us puppies first, but we asked to see the older dogs.  Its easy for puppies to get adopted, but much harder for the older ones.

They walked us past a row of dogs, all clamoring for attention.  One stuck out in particular.  It was a beautiful Akita that was trying to use its nose to open its cage.  I was struck by his intelligence, and within a few minutes, we were filling out the adoption papers.

We took him home a week later, and he immediately fit in with our other animals.

I’m not writing this because I want a pat on the back.  Instead, I’m trying to motivate others to make a difference.

For too long, my wife and I said “we’ll help animals someday”.  We never bothered to make a plan, or define when the mysterious “someday” was.  We kept putting up barriers.  We said we’d do it after our finances calm down.  Once we have more time to volunteer.  After our debt is paid off.

After a while, I got tired of excuses.  I realized that if I have enough money to eat out and buy booze every week, then I have enough money to help a good cause.

Even our small contribution was enough to have an immediate impact.  Due to their lack of funding, the Humane Society can’t spay/neuter every dog that comes in.  The money we donated will pay for another dog to be fixed, which will allow it to be taken to “adoption days” held at area malls and stores (greatly increasing its chances of adoption).

And by adopting a dog, we actually help out two animals.  First, the dog we took home will be spoiled beyond belief.  Also, we freed up room for another dog at the shelter.  It means one more dog will have a chance at finding a loving home.

So please, make an effort to help out a cause you care about.  Charities need more help when times are tough, and we all have an obligation to help those that are less fortunate than us, especially if they can’t help themselves.