4 Practical Ways to Give to Charity During an Economic Recession

Everyone has seen those commercials that claim, "for just thirty cents a day," or "for the price of a cup of coffee," you can feed starving children in Africa. Cheesy as they are, those commercials have the right idea.

During a recession, it can feel impossible to give to charity when you're already pinched. Coming up with an extra $50 when you've had to postpone paying off the credit card or taking the kids to the dentist can feel like your priorities are out of whack. But if you parcel a donation into manageable chunks, you can still give money to your favorite charity.

The trick is to make a plan and stick to it. If you can put a quarter in a piggy bank every day, that adds up to $1.75 a week. Over a year, that's $91 that you can give to charity, which is a pretty decent chunk of change during an economic recession. If $1.75 a week seems a little steep, aim for a buck a paycheck. That comes out to about $26 per year if you get paid every two weeks. No charity is going to turn down a donation of any amount, and imagine what would happen if everyone donated one dollar from every paycheck.

2. Time is better than money.

When you think about giving to charity, is money the first thing you think of? Your time is also valuable, and sometimes time is the only thing you can give to charity during a recession. Think of it this way: no amount of money can replace a caring volunteer who visits with the elderly, pets the cats at an animal shelter, or teaches literacy at a community center. Instead of writing a check, budget an hour a week to do something selfless.

3. Donate, donate, donate.

No time and no money to give to charity during this awful economic recession? That's okay, because many charities can use some of the old crap you've got laying around your house. Animal shelters use old towels and blankets. Books can be donated to libraries, schools and churches. Many libraries and churches will even take those trashy romance novels you've got stored in the back of your closet to sell at their annual book sales. And you can always donate old clothes, shoes, toys, eyeglasses, computer equipment, office supplies, and cell phones to a myriad of organizations.

4. Charity begins at home.

Giving doesn't have to involve any sort of official organization. During an economic recession, your friends and neighbors are probably no better off than you. In fact, no matter how bad you've got it right now, there's probably someone nearby who could use your charity.

Be creative in how you help your neighbors through these tough economic times. If you've got paint languishing in your garage, and your neighbor's shed is looking shabby, get out there and repaint it. If your best friend can no longer afford to keep her dog, offer to care for it in the meantime. If your neighbor's cable got shut off, invite them over to watch major sporting events. You get the picture. Sometimes the best kind of charity can be found in the everyday actions of people who care about us.