One of my must-read frugal bloggers, Alyssa from Keeping the Kingdom First, is hosting a Giving Challenge for the month of November. In her post explaining the challenge, she shares (from her pastor), “I would imagine the anxiety about money- trying to keep it- is a real anxiety. You’ll start to be just utterly amazed at the freedom that comes to you from money… when you start being generous.” And from this line of thought came the 30-Day Challenge. It’s a challenge that, as Alyssa explains, will hopefully “inspire a lifetime habit of giving intentionally”.
I think this challenge is a wonderful idea, and I want to challenge you to jump on board for the next 30 days.
Here’s what you can do: For the month of November, make it a point to give in some way each day. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. But just give. Get creative. Give locally, give globally. Be intentional. Get your whole family involved. Just give.
And write down each day what you did. This isn’t meant to be a public list. These things shouldn’t be shouted from the rooftops! But rather, it’s a private family record. A way to hold yourself accountable, and look back at the end of the month and hopefully recognize the freedom that came from giving.
You can learn more about the challenge, including how to RSVP on Facebook, here and here.
As a way to get your wheels turning about ways you can give, here are just a few suggestions. Please chime in by leaving a comment with your own ideas!
-Donate non-perishables to a food bank.
-Take some gently used baby or maternity clothes to your local pregnancy resource center.
-Bake cookies for your neighbors.
-Cook a meal for a family going through a difficult time.
-Give a bouquet of flowers to an elderly woman in your neighborhood.
-Buy a soft drink for someone you see providing lawn care service on your street.
-Provide a chicken to a family in need that will be a sustainable source of income and nutrition.
-Donate to a relief fund for those suffering from typhoon-related flood damage in the Philippines.
-Fill a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.
-Give some health and beauty items to a local shelter for victims of domestic abuse.
What ideas do you have?
I’ll be posting about this through the month of November, as Alyssa will be doing as well.
So what are you thoughts? Do you accept the challenge?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This is awesome. I’m a life-long tither and totally think that God blesses us when we give. Small story but cool- I just quit my job in August and have been doin the frugal thing for only 2 months. B4 we ate out EVERY day. I also made the decision to bump up our tithe by 1% during this transitional time (i’m a firm believer that the best time to give more is when you are getting less!!!). Anyways- 2 weeks ago got the oddest thing in the mail. Something from Liberty University (you went there right?) I haven’t been enrolled there since 2003. It was a refund check for $397! No explanation. Didn’t even say what it was a refund for! And Liberty’s not exactly known for giving away free $ :-) I think this 30 day thing is a really cool idea. Can’t wait to see the stories that come out of it!
Brenda- That’s an awesome story. Thanks for sharing. That’s just too funny that LU would send you a check so many years later. (Yes, I’m a LU grad!) I graduated 3.5 years ago and have had my student loan paid off for nearly that same amount of time. I just got a check in the mail a month ago from where I overpaid my loan that many years ago, and the loan provider was finally making good on the overpayment. Of course, my check was for just $1.35. :) Anyway, I just thought that was kind of funny. Thanks again for sharing, Brenda!
.-= Dana @ Frugal in VA´s last blog ..The 30-Day Giving Challenge =-.
Dana–I LOVE this!! I love the 30 day challenge!! How awesome!! And I agree—write it down for yourself, but don’t shout it from the rooftop. I just recently heard a sermon about what type of legacy you will want to leave behind. One point that stuck out that I LOVED was that when we give, we should give unselfishly, not to get a pat on the back and not so we can tell everyone what we do, but to give as Jesus gave so unselfishly to us. I LOVE that!!
Thanks for an awesome blog and for an awesome challenge.
Dana- Thank you so much for encouraging others to join the challenge! Your suggestions are great, I love all those ideas.
By the way, my husband is currently a distance education student at LU! He is almost done, and he loves it. Also, my Pastor, the one who actually inspired this challenge, is ALSO an LU grad! What a small world. :)
I am taking the challenge too!
.-= Shelly´s last blog ..New November Coupons! =-.