6 Easy Ways to Give Back Before the End of the Year

“I’d love to give back but who has the time? Who has the money?”

When it comes to giving back, a majority of the population pulls out these two main excuses. Yet to be fair, they aren’t wrong. 

In the minds of the people, giving back is in the form of donating money, donating supplies, and donating time. Thus, the question becomes, “if I don’t have enough [money, supplies, or time] for myself, how am I supposed to give back to others?”

Quite fair, don’t you think?

However, giving back is not meant to be complicated, out of the way, or guilted. Giving back is meant to share, to provide for the less fortunate, to give someone a chance at a better future, or to even make someone’s day. Since that is the case, giving back should, and really is, quite simple, even for those who do not have ample money or time.

Another thing to note is that giving back does not always have to relate to a charity. There are plenty of ways to give back. For instance, you can give to schools, shelters, soup kitchens, communities, non-profit organizations, your neighbors, and more! 

It is safe to say that we are all busy creatures, but there are still plenty of ways to give back. So, what are some ways to give back that do not require much time, and possibly not much money? 

Well, you’re in luck. Here are 6 easy, cost and time friendly ways to give back. Check them out:

1. Buy from local stores & stores that give back

One quick and easy way to give back is to buy from local stores, or in other words, promote local businesses within your community. Rather than purchase from large corporations, you can make purchases at a local farmers market or a local grocery store instead. By purchasing at your local stores, you are also helping your community grow.

Another option is to purchase from stores that give back. There are plenty of stores, both local and large corporations, that partner with schools, charities, shelters, and more. By buying items at stores that give back, every purchase you make, the store will give back to their affiliates, which means you are giving back too.

2. Spread the word on social media (share button, like button, retweet button, etc.)

One of the easiest ways to give back is to spread the word. Word-of-mouth marketing is exactly how it sounds - it’s a marketing tactic where consumers are sharing about the company or product from their experiences. 

Word-of-mouth marketing is arguably the most powerful because let’s face it, we trust our friends, family, and reviews from strangers over what a business says. 

In terms of giving back, the easiest way is to spread the word on social media. Now, it is easier than ever to spread the word through social media because all you need to do is press the share button, the like button, or the retweet button! You’re on your phone hours a day anyways, why not take 1 minute and press the share button while you’re there?

So the tip is: donate on social media, then press share! Presto - you’ve given back and have spread the words so others can give back too. 

3. Donate on social media 

One of the best things with the invention of the Internet and social media, is that now there is a demand for ease and convenience. Nowadays, you can purchase a bed online, know exactly what it will look like (thank you augmented reality!), and have it shipped right to your door without having to move a muscle besides your thumbs.

That same ease and convenience can be applied to giving back. With platforms like Facebook, charities, schools, non-profit organizations, and more are able to create pages, host events, and set up donation links. It is actually super easy to just press “donate” and send money to an organization without ever having to leave your house or have the whole process take more than 5 minutes.

Once you donate, be sure to follow the second tip and spread the word on social media! Word-of-mouth marketing is a proven way to multiply your giving back efforts without the additional effort and time. It’s the quickest way to bring attention to the causes and help encourage others to give back too.

4. Purchase materials & donate them to a nearby charity/school

Giving back often seems like a chore, but in reality, it’s quite simple. Take, for example, a day at the grocery store or a day at an office supply store. As you purchase one for yourself or your children, you can purchase an addition one and donate it to a nearby charity or school.

Whether you’re out at Office Depot, Ralph’s, or even the 99 Cents Store/Dollar Tree, it’s really that easy. Instead of grabbing one pack of pens, grab two, even if they’re on discount or considered “cheaper.” You’d be surprised at how needed supplies and food are when the people depending on these charities, non-profits, and schools have nothing. Even a 99 Cents Store pack of pencils can make a difference.

5. Double your recipes and give a meal to a neighbor/soup kitchen/shelter

Similar to tip number 4, this tip relates to food. We all grocery shop, right? We all cook and eat too, right?

The tip here is to double your recipe as you’re cooking. By doubling your recipe, now there’s enough to give back to a friend in need, a neighbor in your community, local soup kitchens, or any shelter.

Something as simple as making twice as much as you need and using that second portion for someone who is in need makes a huge difference. Not only are you giving back, but you are also helping someone who may not have eaten in days, may not have had money to purchase a meal, or may not have had access to any type of food. 

The best part about this tip is that it doesn’t require additional effort. You’re still cooking what you’re cooking, buying what you’re buying, and eating what you’re eating, but now you get to share the love and give back. Giving back has never been so simple!

6. Ask your office, friends, and family to donate supplies to start up a collection, then donate it

Teamwork makes the dream work, and that’s the same with giving back. To make it more fun, get your whole company involved. Donations can be big or small, supplies or money, and just about anything. You can even share the tips above, such as buying an extra set of pencils or doubling a recipe. It doesn’t take much effort.

Have each person contribute, and do a contest, such as whoever brings the most supplies gets a party. Another idea is to set a goal and if the company reaches it, everyone can go to lunch or a small party can be thrown. Once the deadline is reached or the bucket of donations is full, all you have to do is drop it off at the charity’s, school’s, or non-profit’s office.

The idea is to make it fun, get everyone involved, and even make it a habit to give back. It’s good for the individual and it’s good for the company and its overall morale. Yay team!

So there you have it - 6 easy, cost and time friendly ways to give back. The act of giving is not that complicated or consuming nor should it be. Now, with these tips, you can give back without even realizing you are. Not only are you doing what you need to do or having fun, but things you do every day can help children receive an education, people receive a home cooked meal, and more. All of that just by doing what you are going to do anyways. How convenient!

Which ones did you find the most interesting and will use? 

Are there other tips you have when it comes to giving back?

We would love to hear your comments and suggestions. Share your thoughts below, and as stated, share this on social media and let’s spread the word!

Guest Post Written by: Michelle Kamal