Fabulous Financials

A SMFF reader sent me the following email:

Hey Single Ma

As I’m re-evaluating my finances, I’m looking towards my financial role models (including you!) and I’m wondering whether you tithe?

I currently do not tithe and I’m okay with it . . . but I do want my spending to be a better reflection of my values. So, I definitely want to increase my giving in 2008.

Just wondering what you do.

My response:

What an interesting and unexpected question! Spiritually, I feel like your email was a gentle reminder that I need to get back on track. So let me be honest with you. No, I don’t tithe right now. Although it’s no excuse, since I moved from SoMD to NoVA, I haven’t found a new church home. The drive to my old church was almost 2 hours away and I fell off after only one month. I’ve visited several churches and I’ve made offerings, but it’s been about 5 months since I’ve paid any tithes.

My Thoughts on Charitable Donations:

At the beginning of the year, I calculate a fixed amount for annual donations by a % of my “gross” earnings. The reason I use gross earnings is because I also take the itemized tax deduction. For personal reasons, I don’t want to give, then turn around and ask Uncle Sam for my money back. So giving based on a % of “gross” earnings with a tax deduction is simply giving away tax free dollars.

Although I don’t tithe (for now), I agree with the SMFF reader - it’s important for my finances to be aligned with my values. So when I make charitable donations, my #1 priority is the Salvation Army due to an experience in my past. Second is anything associated with helping single parents, for obvious reasons. I also contribute to need based programs and social causes that I identify with. And next year, I’m going to pay more attention to Modest Needs, an organization that allows you to review individual circumstances and apply your contribution(s) to any need of your choice. But enough about me…

Do you tithe? Why or why not?

Do you commit a specific amount annually for charitable donations?

What are you favorite charitable organizations?

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Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!

Since the financial literacy challenge was initiated by HC @ One Big Mortar Board, PF bloggers and their readers have managed to meet and exceed the original goal of $1,500. New projects have been added, the goal was increased to $2,000, and we’ve fully funded FIVE classroom projects. Here’s a list of the projects made possible by your generous donations:

Creating Smart Money Managers Through a Classroom Economy

Show Me the Work: I’ll Show You the Money

Mini-Society Entrepreneurial Education

When Money Talks, Students Learn!

Classroom Economy, Using Money in a Real Life Context!

I am amazed by what we’ve been able to accomplish in such a short period of time! Many of you should have received thank you emails from the teachers by now, and if you donated $100 or more, you can expect to receive personalized thank you letters from the students as well. In addition, I would like to extend a very sincere THANK YOU from the entire PF blogosphere.

Currently, we’ve reached 97% of our revised goal and we only need another $70 to consider it a HUGE success. If you are interested in making a contribution, please visit DonorsChoose for more details.

Also at your convenience, please check out One Big Mortar Board for more specific updates and find out how she plans to sweeten the pot in a donor raffle.

Related Posts:

Financial Literacy: PF Blogger Challenge

Financial Literacy Challenge - Update #1

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Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!

Financial Literacy: PF Blogger Challenge <---Peep that! We achieved our original $1,500 goal, added a few more projects, and are already 80% complete! My fellow PF Bloggers and our readers are FAB-U-LOUS!! Can't you tell we love the kids! LOL I want to send a special shout out to:

One Big Mortar Board

pfblogs.org

Consumerism Commentary

Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge

English Major Money

Grad Money Matters

No Limit Ladies

Dimple’s Divine Domain

Moneymonk

My Open Wallet

Debt Hater

My Money Blog

…for their effort and generous contributions! If you’ve made a donation and/or promoted the PF Challenge on your blog, let me know and I’ll add you to the list.

Do you want to join the PF blogger challenge and help promote financial literacy in the classroom? We’d love for you to read more about it and/or make a donation here.

~*~*~*~*~*~
Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!

I hope you’ve noticed the new graphic in the right sidebar.

DonorsChoose, a non-profit organization that supports the needs of teachers and students, is running a Blogger Challenge during the month of October. The purpose is to encourage bloggers to utilize their form of media (i.e. readership) to support classroom projects in public schools.

As a result, the fabulous http://mortarboard.blogspot.com/ has partnered with pfblogs.org to establish the Personal Finance Blogger Financial Literacy Challenge! That’s right, PF bloggers have stepped up to put their money where their mouth is. We tout financial literacy every single day. Many of us wish personal finance was taught in the classroom and almost all of us believe the sooner you learn good financial habits, the better. Well now we’ve been given a fabulous opportunity to make it happen.

HC has chosen 4 different projects and one of them just so happen to be right here in the DC area! It will take approximately $2,4000 to fully fund all 4 projects, but our initial goal is to raise at least $1,500.00. As of this post, we are already 32% complete.

If we accomplish this goal before the end of October, there’s no need to stop the fun. What do you think we’ll do? That’s right, raise the bar and push the envelope some more baby! LOL! If we collectively raise $1,500, we will shoot for the entire $2,400! Or maybe add 4 more new projects to our list.

I recently donated $100 to the DC project. Here’s the way I see it. I earn $100+ every month because of this blog, so the donation is simply reinvesting into something I value. Therefore, I challenge every successful PF Blogger to meet or exceed my donation.

As for my readers, I highly encourage you to give what you can. Many PF bloggers share their knowledge everyday - for FREE - and I’m sure it has helped many of you in some way. So help us spread financial literacy into the classroom. Whatever you can afford to give, even if it’s only $1, is greatly appreciated. Everybody love the kids! Ha!

P.S. Initiating another GROUP BLOGGER challenge (i.e. DC bloggers, Black bloggers, Mommy bloggers, LGBT bloggers, Poetry/Writer bloggers, Personal Development bloggers, Celebrity Gossip bloggers, etc.) to fund other projects is fabulous way to help the children.

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Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!

The focus of my blog is primarily personal finance, but I’d like to use this forum to remind those in the know, make aware those who are not, and simply spread the word about 6 young men in Jena, Louisiana who may lose their freedom over a school yard fight. Although the initial ruling that was going to sentence a teenager to 20+ years in prison was overturned, there’s still a long road ahead to ensure all of these young men receive a fair trial. As a result, tomorrow (September 20th) is the march in Louisiana to spread awareness and gain support for the Jena 6. If you are not able to attend the march, please wear ALL BLACK to show your support. Below are a few links to get more information on the topic:

Jena 6 National Week of Solidarity (pdf)

NAACP Leads March on Jena

Justice for the Jena 6

Free the Jenna 6!

Friends of Justice: Jena 6

Black America Web: Rally for Jena 6 in Louisiana

UPDATE:

Thousands march for justice in Jena, Louisiana

Thousands of protesters clogged the tiny town of Jena, Louisiana, Thursday to show their indignation over what they consider unjust, unequal punishments meted out in two racially charged incidents.

They swarmed over the grounds of Jena High School, where nooses were hung from a tree in early August 2006, about three months before six black teens known as the “Jena 6″ were accused of beating a white classmate.

While the tension was palpable, news broke Thursday afternoon that the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal ordered a hearing within 72 hours to determine if the only one of the six still behind bars can be released.

~*~*~*~*~*~
Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!

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