Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label charity. Show all posts

Reminder About Charity Calls

Lately I’ve been getting a ton of charity calls on my cell phone, so I wanted to remind you all of a few points to keep in mind when dealing with charity calls.

1.  If the call comes in as unknown don’t always assume the charity is fake.  Do ask for more information, and do check it out yourself.

2. Don’t ever agree to give money over the phone even if you think you’re dealing with a reputable charity.  Some scams sound very legit, and some reputable charities use telemarketing services that will take over 80% of the donation as their cut before the money ever reaches the charity.

3.  I’ve had this one happen a lot.  If the caller starts to get rude because you refuse to donate money over the phone simply ask to be removed from their calling list and state that you prefer to donate through the mail, online, or in person.  If the caller continues to be rude hang up.  This goes for other types of solicitation calls as well. I have vowed never to buy anything from a solicitation call, especially those trying to sell me alarm services and fencing. We get those calls all the time, and I tell them I personally would rather drive halfway across the country to buy from houston fence company than subject myself to a possible scam and rudeness.

4.  Ask the caller to mail you more information.  If the caller gives some excuse as to why they can’t mail info there is a good chance the call is a scam.

5. Keep in mind charity calls are exempt from the Do Not Call List, but if the charity continues to solicit calls through a third party telemarketer after you’ve asked them to remove your number from their list you can still report the calls as a violation.  If you believe the caller is conducting a scam please report it!

Helping A Family In Need

Every month I box up all the coupons I don’t need or that have expired and send them to families overseas who need them.  Actually I give them to a friend who collects everyone’s coupons and sends them to the families to ensure they all get a nice stack of coupons.

This month I’ll be sending my expired coupons her way, but I decided to send the in date coupons I won’t use elsewhere, to a family we know up north who could really use the help.  Not only is their family of 3 about to become a family of 4, but he’s out of work with some serious back problems and just had a new back surgery to try to relieve some of the pain previous back surgeries have worsened instead of helped. So far the latest surgery has helped a bit, but he’s still in massive amounts of pain and unable to work.  That’s putting the family in a tight spot, so I’ve been collecting in date coupons for items I know they use or will use with the new baby and baby samples I no longer need but still receive like diapers, wipes, and formula.  I’m about to stick them all in a big box and mail them out along with a couple drawings my little girl made for their son who is her age. 

So I’ll be back to sending my coupons to the families overseas soon, but I feel this family really needs any help I can send them right now.  Do you use coupons and samples to help needy families you know?  Do you donate products you buy with coupons to rescues or food banks?

Send Those Expired Coupons To Military Families Overseas

A household of sickness has kept me out of the couponing game this week.  I made my lists and fully intended to make it to the store, but this stomach virus we've been passing back and forth didn't agree.  That means I missed out on the Buy 1 Get 1 Free box of Staples all purpose paper that I really wanted to pick up as well as quite a few other things from coupons that expired yesterday.  I've got a huge stack of coupons expiring today as well, and I know I won't use them.

I could just throw out those expired coupons, but I choose not to.  I prefer to send them to military families overseas that need them.  Most families living on military bases overseas are already on tight budgets, and depending on where they are stationed those budgets may be even tighter thanks to currency exchange rates.  They don't have access to Sunday inserts like we do in the states, so it's always nice to have a chance to help out the military personnel who are risking their lives for our country.

If you would like to get involved there are many ways to do so.  Here are just a few of the many organizations that can help your coupons reach a family overseas.

1. The Overseas Coupon Program- This program allows you to choose a base to "adopt" and send your coupons to.  Read the Adoptions page to get started.  It is recommended that you do not send coupons that are more than 2 months expired.  Many bases will allow families to use these coupons up to 6 months past expiration date, but because they are sorted and handed out by the program you need to allow time for the coupons to reach the families before the 6 month limit.

2. Coupons For Troops- There is a directory listing at the bottom of the page where you can find information for local coupon drop offs in your area.  If you're already on a tight budget and don't think you can afford to ship the coupons this is a great alternative.

3. Troopons- You will find the address at the bottom of the article to send coupons that are no more than 2 months expired.  Please remember to follow all sorting instructions!

Help Out A Child In Need

This post isn't going to be about coupons, freebies, or where you can find the best price on sleeping pills. Today I want to take a time out from all of that to ask you to take a bit of the cash you have saved through your frugal shopping and help out someone else in need.

 

Although there are many families out there who need our help year round many people aren’t reminded of it until the holidays approach.  We see the bell ringers standing outside our favorite stores in the cold for hours while we are happily inside in the warmth shopping.  How many of us take the time to do something to help?  When I have the chance I’ve donated my time to help raise money for the Salvation Army.  In years that I’ve been unable to afford a monetary donation I’ve felt it was the least I could do. 

 

This year I will be unable to volunteer, so I decided I would try my best to still help raise money for the Salvation Army and other charities through my blogs.  I’m asking you to remember those in need this holiday season, and if at all possible give a donation.  You can donate to the Salvation Army online by filling out the secure donation form.

 

Every year I also try to buy at least one gift for the Angel Tree.  The tree I support is for a local charity that provides gifts for orphans, but there are many types of these programs out there.  It’s really easy to participate.  Just find your local store that has an angel tree or gift tree, select a tag (or more if you can afford it!) from the tree, and buy a gift according to the tag instructions.  Most will provide the child’s age range and gender.  Some trees will also include a list of items the child may need.  Most trees ask for gifts in the $10-25 range, so to me that’s a small price to pay to help out a child who wouldn’t otherwise have a Christmas gift.

 

The Salvation Army and JCPenney have teamed up for the Angel Giving Tree.  These trees help provide for gifts for children and seniors in financial hardship who would otherwise be without a gift.  It’s now super easy to participate in a giving tree program because you can adopt an angel online!  When adopting an angel you can choose to adopt locally, choose an age range, and gender. 

 

So here it is folks.  I’m asking you to please if at all possible take the time to help out someone else in need this holiday season.  Whether you can provide a gift, monetary donation, or just donate a little time to help a program it will be much appreciated.  Plus it’s a great experience, too!