Just like fun is an important part of any budget, so is making space for giving. You may already give to charity or to your local church, but have you built it into your budget?
Today’s Assignment
- Make a Giving Envelope. When you make an Envelope for giving, you’re telling yourself that this is a priority you want to plan for each month. You might need to edit the budgeted amounts of other Envelopes so that your total budget is still less than your income. If you already have a Giving Envelope, consider adjusting the amount to fit how important it is to you.
- Fill the Envelope. You may have to adjust your Fill to other Envelopes so you have enough to put into your new Giving Envelope.
- Let us know how you felt making a dedicated Giving Envelope. Does it make you more or less excited to give? And why do you think it’s important to make space for giving? Comment below with your thoughts.
Note for couples: If you need to adjust other parts of your budget in order to put money toward your Giving Envelope, make sure both of you are on the same page about the changes.
Happy budgeting,
-The Goodbudget Team
7 thoughts on “Make Giving a Priority”
My giving envelope helps me be excited to give! Being able to think about the amount I want to give ahead of time, when I can see the big picture while I’m making my budget, helps me be really intentional about giving and helps me prioritize it with an amount that fits in line with what’s important to me. When I put that work in ahead of time, then whenever something comes up that I want to give to, I don’t have to spend a lot of time or energy wondering if I have the capacity to give, because I’ve already set that money aside.
I’m not sure if it make me more or less excited, but it makes it more real and concrete for me. “Ah, this is a commitment” versus the vagueness of “oh yeah I’d love to give … theoretically”
Makes me feel as though I’ve made a commitment and it’s important.
My giving envelope helps me realize how fortunate I am and how important it is to give to others.
My giving envelope is very important. I am hoping to see it grow as I get a better grasp of spending and pay down credit cards.
I will make one…as soon as I get straightened out on other expenses. But it seems very possible and finally makes such matters official and realistic.
I’ll add one, but my family and I usually donate to Goodwill, Police & Fire Dept – for people in need, SteveBe, McDonalds, St. John’s Hospital for cancer victims. Things range from clothing to hats, scarfs, mittens, and cancer hats. In doing so we help others in need and at the same time gives us the joy of creating them,