Green Living: Own Less and Donate More

The world is certainly experiencing a lot of natural disasters lately. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan have shown us that nature can be cruel. The natural instinct is to want to help out when a disaster occurs. However, even in normal times many people do not have much cash available. During a recession finances are even tighter.

However, one way to start a fund to have cash to donate during disasters is to stop buying stuff. And you don't have to wait for a disaster to donate. Many causes that relate to green living need donations year round, such as Arbor Day and Greenpeace.

Green living is a strategy that helps you live a life that will not further damage the environment and will help you have a healthy life. Owning too much stuff leads to stress in many different ways. A house that is full of clutter takes longer to clean. Also, stress arises when closets are so stuffed with items that you cannot find what you need.

Ongoing spending on things you do not need for survival weakens your finances. Shopping is a habit that can make it hard to build an emergency cash fund. That adds to overall stress in life.

Hold a Garage Sale

One way to start preparing for a life that is less about owning stuff and more about giving is to have a garage sale to clean out clutter. If you haven't used something in years why not sell it and put that money earned to good use?

Get some tote bags or garbage bags out and start sorting through closets to prepare to sell unwanted items. Once you have collected a few bags full of stuff start to plan your garage sale. For helpful tips about how to run a garage sale go to Organized Home here.

Open a Good Deeds Savings Account

After you have earned cash at your garage sale, start a good deeds savings account at a local bank. It helps to have a separate account for your new quest to help during disasters. This money will be separate from other accounts so you are not tempted to use it for other reasons.

Set Goal to Raise Funds

Some ways to raise funds to be able to do good deeds includes putting in some extra work time. Set a goal such as working one extra hour a week or doing an extra project to earn money earmarked for future donations.

Tithe

Some people like to tithe a certain amount of their salary to do good deeds. Take a few minutes to figure out what percentage of your salary you spent on shopping expeditions and think about tithing that same amount. Once shopping habits are changed you begin to realize that life can be simpler and happier without an ongoing flow of new items coming into the home. You will also start to save more money and have more cash available to use for good deeds.

Green living is a life strategy that can bring happiness and serenity. When you focus less on the urge to own stuff and show off stuff and care more about making donations it changes the world for the better.

Source:

Organized Home
Greenpeace
Arbor Day