How to Give Generously Even If You're Flat Broke

You have a giving heart but your bank account leaves much to be desired. Don't worry. There are plenty of ways to give to causes that are near and dear to your heart without spending a single dime.

If you are coupon savvy, put your coupons and skills to good use. Pairing effective coupon strategies with store sales can make it easy to score completely free products. Consider donating goods you receive for free to homeless shelters, animal shelters and rescues, churches, food banks, etc. During college, I volunteered at a shelter and we were always running out of basic necessities. Right now there are several retailers (CVS, Staples, and Walgreens) running awesome promotions on school supplies. It is possible to get oodles of free stuff. Consider stocking up and giving the items to your church or school of choice.

Another great idea is to get free samples and donate them to the places mentioned above. A good place to sign up for free samples is Walmart. You can sign up for free at Walmart's website. The samples are for everyday products, and are completely free with no strings attached. Also, if you are ever staying in a hotel, use the complimentary toiletries provided to donate to a shelter in need.

Give your time, become a volunteer! You could be a mentor, visit the elderly in a nursing home, or serve food to the homeless. Take a troubled neighborhood kid under your wing. It will cost you nothing but will make a huge difference in your life and the life of another. Contact your local Youth Services program to find meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Save a life by donating blood. Someone's generous donation of blood saved my life and I am thankful everyday for that. According to The American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. It doesn't take much time at all and you can truly save a life.

Consider purchasing different brands of products you normally buy if they donate all or a portion of their profits to charity. Did you know that one hundred percent of the profits of Newman's Own products go straight to charity? (The Pineapple Salsa is to die for.) The same goes for Rachael Ray's Nutrish dog food line. Plan on buying a Starbucks gift card anytime soon? Opt for the Red card, which donates a portion of its proceeds to fight the AIDS crisis in Africa. Keep your eyes peeled for other products that give to good causes and give them a try.

Are you aware that you can donate your old cell phones? Cell Phones for Soldiers is a good program to consider. Another option is to donate to a local domestic violence shelter. The phones are given to victims of domestic violence and are only good for calling 911. Your cell phone provider might be aware of other similar programs to donate to.

There you have it, folks. There are easy ways to give to good causes without breaking the bank.