I get teased for being a tight-arse – frugal with my money – but I think it’s unjustified. Well, I would say that wouldn’t I! I tend to find people are quick to tease when they don’t understand things. I remember a friends wife taking the mickey out of me for putting tea-bags into my compost bin for recycling. I think she thought recycling meant “re-using” and that I’d use those tea bags for another cuppa later on! Actually, I do know somebody who does that, but anyway…
The other reason I get teased is probably because I react so explosively at times – which as I know (I get slapped for winding friends up all the time…) can be great fun – well for the teaser!
I’ve already mentioned that one of my favourite sites is MoneySavingExpert.com and there are 60,000 other likeminded forum members there. Why pay £10 for an item if you can get it for £5? I don’t call that being tight – I call that being prudent.
The other reason I get teased is probably because I react so explosively at times – which as I know (I get slapped for winding friends up all the time…) can be great fun – well for the teaser!
I’ve already mentioned that one of my favourite sites is MoneySavingExpert.com and there are 60,000 other likeminded forum members there. Why pay £10 for an item if you can get it for £5? I don’t call that being tight – I call that being prudent.
Anyway, all this being “tight” means I can afford to bung a regular few quid to some favourite charities. Now I’m one of these people who will (without blushing) say “no” when somebody comes rattling a can in my face asking for change (Who are these people? Why would you give money to somebody you’ve never met? How can you be sure the money goes where it should?) but think that donating directly to local charities does help.
So the Animal Home at Barnes Hill get some money every month through the company payroll (Give As You Earn means the Government top up your donations in a round-about way), The Woodland Trust get a personal donation monthly, and Birmingham Dogs Home get a cheque every year.
Of course there are other ways to donate to charity. To donate your time is one way (if you work within IT then you’ll find no end of local charities needing help setting up networks and PC’s) and then there’s ”click throughs” – I visit the Hunger Site every day to give without it costing me anything.
So there you go, how to be charitable, even for for the tight arses amongst us. ;-)
About Richard Tubb
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