[Yudster]

I'm not sure there's any virtue in putting yourself in a position which could be detrimental to you or your family in order to give to charity though.

My charity giving is budgeted and done on gift-aided direct debits which I review every year. Outside of that, any charity donations are more in the way of raising money rather than giving more - for instance, Derrick, the Ugandan orphan that I and a small group of others sponsor, needs extra money for school supplies which we didn't know about (neither did he, poor love) until a month ago - so we're having a cake sale on Sunday to raise the cash!

I don't think that "struggling" to make a donation for the sake of it is particularly honourable though.

[Vivienne]

I just meant "struggling" somehow is more impressive than someone like BBoff for whom £5K would be like 10p. In the words of Shania Twain, "That don't impress me much".

I'm not suggesting that a person deprives their family. Family comes first, as I said before, but we are all in this World. We owe it to this World to help this World. And I budget out too.

[rustybike]

I would be more impressed by a person genuinely doing something & struggling to give the money.

I'm sorry, but why the hell should people have to struggle and possibly make themselves poor for others? The whole point of giving to charity is to give any spare change you have, not bloody bleed yourself dry. In this world, the simple act of giving over your hard earned cash is a big thing, people should be grateful for what they've got not become greedy and expect more. Would you still say that to celebrities who give millions to charity? I think that what they give is very generous of them, but they've hardly struggled and worked to raise the money either but I bet you'd think they're doing a great job.

It is our place to do something to make changes in this World. We, after all, live in it.

Quite right, but I'm a strong believer of changing things that effect you in life first. Say, spending some money on some private surgery to get rid of a dodgy lump, or spending a couple of hundred pounds at the vets to make your cat/dog better or even simply sending an expensive bunch of flowers to your friend. That, to me anyways, is much more important than giving some money to some African village. Besides, I'm actually sometimes cautious about giving to certain charities with some of the stories I've heard about where the money from charities like Oxfam actually go to. Let's just say it's not always going to the villages first. I'd much prefer give to an animal charity like the NCDL where I can physically see the money actually helping and going towards something.

[TIAL]

So a £10 donation sees the charity get nearly £12, just giving get their cash from claiming back from the government (this only happens if you click on the tax thingy when you donate).

I didn't click on this as I wasn't sure whether I had the right to claim gift-aid (don't pay income tax etc) and didn't want the whole thing to be rejected.

[Vivienne]

Did I say make oneself poor? Struggling was perhaps a bit of a strong word. I shall replace it with "sacrifice". I'm gonna have less caffeine over the next 2 weeks, so I can sponsor. Stuff like that. Less texts, less coffee, a person then has some spare change to give to Bruvva, or someone similar. Why not just simply get it done!!

A bunch of expensive flowers is just a waste in my eyes.

[Vivienne]

Or the word "struggling" could be used in the context of doing a marathon, like Bruvva, really putting yourself out there, and physically enduring to raise the cash. Now, that's impressive.

[rustybike]

My charity giving is budgeted and done on gift-aided direct debits which I review every year. Outside of that, any charity donations are more in the way of raising money rather than giving more - for instance, Derrick, the Ugandan orphan that I and a small group of others sponsor, needs extra money for school supplies which we didn't know about (neither did he, poor love) until a month ago - so we're having a cake sale on Sunday to raise the cash!

Same here, I give £3 a month to the NCDL and £2 a month to my little Donkey Sanctuary. I also know that my mum sends clothing to her adopted child in Peru occasionally as well as money to the village the little girl lives in. Random I know, but when my mum went trecking in Peru with some friends she came across a village and after she saw the condition these children lived in she decided to do her bit for them. That to me is charity. I just sometimes feel that it's so much more rewarding if you're related somewhat to the charity you give to.

A bunch of expensive flowers is just a waste in my eyes.

See, where as I think the opposite. Putting a smile on someones face when they're at their lowest with some flowers is a great feeling.

[TIAL]

But on paper isn't giving £100 from your own spare change exactly the same as giving £100 sponsorship money for a race?
I don't think it really matters if you have to struggle or not, all that matters is you've given some money.

[Vivienne]

I adopt a pig which I got from hillside. I've no connection to the Charity. I had ordered something from amazon, and with it was enclosed a leaflet for the animal sanctuary. I took this as a sign I was meant to help, adopted my pig, and also distributed 100 of their leaflets around town.

I'm not a big fan of gifts of flowers personally. I only like to look at them in gardens.

[rustybike]

But on paper isn't giving £100 from your own spare change exactly the same as giving £100 sponsorship money for a race?

Yes it is, although it does depend on the rules of the sponsorship. Sometimes you can just do £100 for the lot or other times you can do 100 per mile if someone is doing a run. It just depends on what you can afford and whether you can afford to pay for someone doing say a 10 mile run at £10 a mile.

I don't think it really matters if you have to struggle or not, all that matters is you've given some money.

Exactly, Tial. My thoughts exactly.

[Vivienne]

It's just more IMPRESSIVE if you are making more of an effort, I think. I'd like to try one of these marathons. So far, I've only done Sport Relief.

[Yudster]

I'm gonna have less caffeine over the next 2 weeks, so I can sponsor. Stuff like that. Less texts, less coffee, a person then has some spare change to give to Bruvva, or someone similar.

In many ways I find that just as impressive as the fact that Bruvva is actually doing the run! Its definitely what you might call an uncommon approach - unfortunately.

[Vivienne]

I fail to see why less caffeine = more money for something else is in anyway unusual.

[MK Chris]

It's the approach that is unusual, Viv.. the fact you're willing to give up a luxury in order to benefit someone else - that is not only unusual, but also, as Yudwuk says, an impressive thing to do.

[rustybike]

Couldn't agree more.

Someone, who has never ran properly in their life, taking part in training and then the final marathon event is a much more impressive act than someone who regulary runs anyway taking part in a marathon.

[Vivienne]

So, you're agreeing after all with me?

[rustybike]

So, you're agreeing after all with me?

I don't think we're agreeing with you when you said:

I'm gonna have less caffeine over the next 2 weeks, so I can sponsor. Stuff like that. Less texts, less coffee, a person then has some spare change...

As that is hardly an impressive act.

However I believe we're agreeing with you when you said:

It's just more IMPRESSIVE if you are making more of an effort, I think.

Although not making ourselves poor.

[Vivienne]

**sighs** The fault-finder will find fault even in Paradise.

[MK Chris]

I don't think we're agreeing with you when you said:

I'm gonna have less caffeine over the next 2 weeks, so I can sponsor. Stuff like that. Less texts, less coffee, a person then has some spare change...

As that is hardly an impressive act.

I think it is. If you are used to having something (and don't forget some people (which may or may not include Viv) are addicted to caffeine) that they consider important in their lives for a while in order to donate money to charity, I think that's wholly impressive.

[rustybike]

**sighs** The fault-finder will find fault even in Paradise.

Excuse me, Viv. I believe you're just as guilty of doing that as well!

I just meant "struggling" somehow is more impressive than someone like BoBoff for whom £5K would be like 10p... "That don't impress me much".

...from what I have heard about Boboff, £5K would be small change.

He raised 5k for gods sake, and yet you're moaning that it's not enough. Anything is better than nothing.

[Vivienne]

Raised £5K?? Or just got it out the Bank that morning?

[rustybike]

Well if Boboff said he raised it then he raised it, and so what if he did just get it out of the bank that morning? What's so wrong about that? It's his 5k he's decided to donate. I really can't believe you're complaining about it's source. Who are you to judge? I'm sure the hospice the 5k went to would have been just as grateful if he got it out of his account than if he raised it. Money is money at the end of the day. I'm sure they were happy with what they got.

[Vivienne]

If he genuinely raised it, great stuff! Fantastic! Absolutely!! I'm just not that impressed by rich people who could practically buy up half the World, yet wouldn't give Bruvva £2.00.

[MK Chris]

Personally, if someone wishes to donate or raise money, that is down to them and at their own discretion. Being a donor does not give them the right to bully others into doing the same; encourage, yes.. bully, no.

[rustybike]

True... But I guess it's their choice where their money goes.
Just because some people are rich doesn't mean that there is a rule to say that any charity donations made by them have to be over a certain amount.