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10 Charities to Donate to This Holiday Season

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As the days continue to get shorter, the weather grows colder, and the Thanksgiving Day leftovers finally disappear, it’s a clear sign that the holiday season is upon us. Many people, including children, are food insecure, spending nights on the street or in shelters, or simply struggling to make ends meet. So, if you want to make a difference in the lives of those in need, knowing charities to donate to is important.

Charities to Donate to This Holiday Season

Donating to charity is a great way to give back to your community or the world-at-large. Giving allows you to help support individuals and families in need. It also serves as a chance to reflect on what you have and how you can do your part to make the world a better place. By giving donations of food, clothing, toys, and money, you too can make a difference.

Here are a few charities that would be happy to have your contribution.

United Way

One of the largest charities in the world, the United Way works to help disadvantaged individuals and communities. They focus on income assistance, health, and education. They also work with a range of other worthy causes. Additionally, they provide assistance during natural disasters. They provide support to areas ravaged by hurricanes, wildfires, and more.

Save the Children

An international organization that focuses on supporting children in developing countries, Save the Children is an excellent charity to select. They strive to provide educational opportunities, healthcare, and financial assistance to kids in need. Further, they also help areas ravaged by natural disasters and battling the impacts of war.

Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club aims to provide opportunities to children, particularly in poverty-stricken areas. They create environments where kids can feel like part of a larger, supportive community while also giving them access to opportunities that help them become productive and functional members of society.

Kids Alive International

A Christian charity, Kids Alive International provides care for at-risk youths. The organization has chapters throughout the world and provides assistance through schools, children’s homes, and care centers.

Map International

Another Christian organization, Map International works with groups in poverty-stricken communities. Their aim is to improve the overall health of some of the poorest individuals and families by supporting the community and providing access to assistance that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Local Food Banks

Food banks are always looking for donations of non-perishable food items. By providing support, you can help families have access to filling meals this holiday, ensuring that those who are less fortunate can still enjoy good food this season.

Toys for Tots

Operated by the U.S. Marine Corps, Toys for Tots gathers new and gently used toys and distributes them to families with children who are in need. This allows less fortunate kids to experience the joy of having a gift this holiday season.

Books for Africa

A charity that looks to improve the lives of children by giving them access to books, Books for Africa gathers, sorts, and ships reading material to some of Africa’s most underprivileged areas. This is a great organization to support if you want to promote reading on an international level.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army works on an international scale, striving to support some of the most impoverished individuals, families, and communities in numerous ways. The organization operates homeless shelters and charity shops. Plus, they provide support during disasters and humanitarian relief. When it comes to what you can donate, The Salvation Army can accept anything from money to vehicles to household items to clothes.

Ronald McDonald House

Working to improve the health and well-being of children in need, the Ronald McDonald House makes specialized medical care more accessible to low-income families by providing access to low-cost or free housing near hospitals. Additionally, they make sure vulnerable communities can get basic medical and dental care.

Why You Should Donate to Charity This Holiday Season

The season of giving is upon us, making it the perfect time to support your local area and those struggling in other countries. Whether you can donate your time, money, or items, you too can help improve the lives of people in need, so consider giving today.

Do you have a favorite charity? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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7 in 10 Would Rather Skip Buying Christmas Gifts: Here Are Some Alternatives

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It’s no secret that exchanging gifts and gift-giving are a huge part of the holiday season. However, if you’ve found yourself less excited about the entire process of exchanging gifts, you should know you’re not alone. It turns out, a lot of people would prefer to give up gift giving if their families allowed it and if they had any alternatives to buying Christmas gifts.

Nearly 70% Want to Skip Buying Christmas Gifts

According to a holiday survey in an online Harris Poll on behalf of Suntrust, a surprising 7 in 10 people said they’d skip gift-giving this season if it were okay with their friends and family. And, it isn’t just the Grinchy types who hate the season. For the most part, they would rather spend the time actually doing something with their friends and family members than on buying or making gifts.

Holiday Stress and Debt Compounded

For a lot of people, the holiday season comes with stress and anxiety. When you add the obligation of gift exchanges, a large number of Americans face a tremendous amount of financial anxiety. This means not only worrying about debt and money during the season but also feeling the pressure of spending money on things they really cannot afford.

In fact, this pressure to overspend has been proven to result in a mountain of debt after Christmas is over. And, with as many as 25 percent of Americans experiencing post-holiday depression, gift-giving and the financial aftermath can be especially difficult for many families.

Alternatives to Buying Christmas Gifts

So, if you decide to forego gift-giving, can you still have a joyous holiday season? The answer, of course, is yes. It doesn’t take buying and receiving gifts to enjoy the holidays with your friends and family. Of those surveyed, 25 percent said they would rather use the money on activities instead of gifts. You might want to consider some of these alternatives to buying Christmas gifts.

  • Take a family trip or plan an activity. It can be as large or as simple as you all agree on, from doing an escape room together to taking a family trip skiing. In any event, it might be cheaper even if each family covers their own expenses, than buying each person a small gift. Plus, you can plan the event at any time of the year – it doesn’t necessarily have to be on Christmas day – which could save you money as well.
  • Have dinner and watch a movie. You don’t have to skip the entire Christmas day festivities. You could still get together for a holiday meal and then plan to watch Elf, A Christmas Story, or any other of your favorites.
  • Volunteer together. An activity that not only teaches children the importance of volunteering is helping out over the holidays. Sure, it might be difficult explaining that they’re helping feed people who can’t afford a Christmas dinner instead of receiving gifts, but the feeling you get from helping make someone else’s Christmas a little brighter might make up for it.
  • Pay down debt and save together. This might not be an alternative that sounds like fun either, but in the end, it might bring everyone more joy than exchanging gifts. Of those surveyed, 37 percent said they would rather pay down debt and 47 percent said they would save or invest. Each person/family can use the money they’d use for gifts to either pay down debt or save for a big family trip or event later.

Don’t forget that finding alternatives to buying Christmas gifts doesn’t necessarily mean you have to completely skip out on giving toys and gifts, especially to the kids. If you only replace gift-giving among the adults, it can make a significant difference to those with large families and huge networks of friends.

This Season Find What Works for You and Your Family

It isn’t too late to reach out to your friends and family members and come up with a different plan. Remember that Christmas and the holiday season are supposed to be joyous and happy. Don’t spend it worrying about the money you feel obligated to spend on gifts.

Would you give up gift exchanges if your friends and family members agreed to it? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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How to Get a CVS Money Order

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Money orders are an effective alternative to personal checks. They allow you to safely send money to individuals or businesses and act as a guarantee to the recipient that the funds are available. However, they aren’t always as convenient as checks, as you have to head to a store or bank to get one. Here are all your questions answered as well as how to get a CVS money order.

How to Get a CVS Money Order

CVS offers money orders through MoneyGram at every CVS pharmacy location. Since many of the stores are open 24/7, this is incredibly convenient for those who need help outside of traditional business hours.

What is the Limit for a Money Order at CVS?

When you buy a CVS money order, the amount can be no higher than $500. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a higher amount; you’ll just need to buy multiples.

For example, if you need $940 in money orders, you can get one CVS money order for $500 and a second for $440.

Is There a Fee?

Yes, there is a fee for getting a money order. At CVS, it is $0.99.

The fee isn’t per transaction but per money order. If you need $940 in money orders (making it necessary to buy two), you will pay $1.98 in fees.

Getting a CVS Money Order

All you need to do to get a money order at any CVS pharmacy is head to a register. Then, let the cashier know you want a money order. They’ll handle the transaction and provide you with the money order.

Payment

As with most money orders, you have to pay in cash. This allows CVS to guarantee the funds, which is one of the biggest points of using a money order in the first place.

Other payment mechanisms – including credit cards, debit cards, checks, and gift cards – are not allowed for money orders. These cannot be guaranteed as easily as cash, as a transaction may initially go through even if the money isn’t actually available.

Filling Out

Once you have a money order, you have to fill it out before the recipient can cash it. First, you’ll need to put the person’s or company’s name in the “pay to” or “pay to the order of” space, making sure that you write it in accurately.

Then, you provide your address in the “purchaser’s address” section. Finally, sign the front of the money order on the signature line (the back signature line is for the recipient only). Tear off the receipt attached to the money order so you can track it and then provide the rest to the recipient.

Does CVS Cash Money Orders?

No, CVS pharmacies does not cash money orders; they only sell them. If you need to cash a money order, you’ll need to take it somewhere else.

Nearly every bank or credit union can cash a money order. If you head to your own bank or credit union, you may be able to cash one without paying a fee. Sometimes, there is a small cost for non-account holders that varies depending on the amount of the money order and the bank you use for cashing services.

Check cashing locations will also pay out money orders. However, they may charge more than your typical bank or credit union.

Some grocery stores cash money orders too. However, this isn’t a universally available service for any chain, so you might want to call your store ahead of trying to get a money order cashed.

Is CVS the Best Place to Get a Money Order?

For a lot of people, CVS is a great option for getting a money order. Since many locations are open 24/7, it is incredibly convenient for those who can’t head out during normal business hours. Plus, the $0.99 fee is pretty reasonable.

However, there may be other options with lower fees or higher limits in your area, so it’s worth exploring before you commit to CVS. For example, Walmart offers a higher limit and lower fee at their Money Center, but the service isn’t available outside of their usual operating hours.

Do you go to CVS for money orders? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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House Flipper Tips: Can You Flip Your Way to Retirement?

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Thanks to television shows like Flip or Flop, house flipping is in its heyday. In fact, many people wonder whether it is possible to flip their way to retirement, either allowing them to retire comfortably when the time comes or using it as a means to exit the formal workforce early. Here are some house flipper tips for retirement.

Can You Flip Your Way to Retirement?

In short, yes, you can flip your way to retirement. However, that doesn’t mean everyone will achieve that level of success, and many flippers who proceed without a plan actually lose money.

Shows like Flip or Flop, Zombie House Flipping, and First Time Flippers don’t always provide flipping newbies with an accurate picture of what it takes to flip a house successfully. While they touch on the financial aspects of the projects and mention some of the challenges, these shows are small glimpses into the reality of taking on a house to flip.

Plus, buying a house to flip is a massive investment. If something goes wrong, losing money is a possibility, at times to the tune of thousands (if not tens of thousands) of dollars.

However, with some care and proper planning, it is possible to flip a house successfully. Then, if you purchase another property and keep flipping, supporting your retirement through house slips is an option.

Consider the Costs of the House

To flip a house, you need to purchase a property that requires work to reach its full market potential. Additionally, you need to focus on homes that, once you pay for repairs and upgrades, is worth substantially more than you put in.

Often, the best way to begin is to find a property with potential and buy it with cash. This eliminates mortgage interest and certain fees from the equation, increasing your profit-making capabilities.

Being realistic and knowledgeable about the actual costs and potential earnings is also critical. Many flippers forget how much closing costs and realtor commissions can run, and they both impact profit margins.

Similarly, not knowing the market can come back to haunt you. You need a realistic picture of the homes potential resale value when complete, a process that usually begins by examining comparable properties, or “comps,” that recently sold in the neighborhood before you make a purchase. If you use an agent to buy the house you plan to flip, they can help in this area.

Additionally, you need to be able to fund all of the repairs and upgrades with cash. Again, this is about avoiding debt, interest, and fees, all of which can eat away at profits.

Plan for Repairs and Upgrades

You’ll need to set a budget for your flip and estimate the costs of repairing the property. This includes both products and labor, as most flippers don’t have the expertise to manage every kind of repair themselves, at least in the beginning. While cosmetic changes, like paint, are fairly easy to take on, electrical, plumbing, structural, and roof repairs usually require a contractor, and their labor comes with a price tag.

Before you complete the home buying process, get a home inspection at a minimum. You may also want to pay for specialty inspections, such as by having a plumber send a camera through the pipes or an electrician to evaluate the wiring, as issues behind the walls may not be caught during a traditional inspection. Then, you’ll have a solid idea of what repairs are necessary beyond cosmetic improvements and can get quotes for the work or plan for expenses for projects you take on personally.

Once the core work is done, you also need to take care when choosing other upgrades. While hardwood floors, marble counters, and soaker tubs may be the dream, you need to make sure that high-end finishes will land you a solid return. Otherwise, you risk over-improving the house for the neighborhood, and that can lead to losses.

How Do You Set a Sale Price?

Once the work is done, you usually list the home for sale with a realtor. By getting help from a professional, they can help you pick a suitable price according to current market conditions. Plus, they act as an objective third-party. Since you put in some much time and effort, you may have an emotional attachment that clouds your judgment, leading you to think the house is worth more than it is realistically.

How Do You Use Flipping to Retire?

Usually, you can’t fund a retirement with a single flip. Instead, once you sell one property, you move on to another, either using your profits from the first to reach higher value markets or investing your profits to save for retirement and sticking in the same zone.

Over time, you may even be able to slip multiple properties at once, accelerating your plan. However, it’s critical to always take the same level of care with each purchase and renovation, as falling quality will hurt your reputation and profit margins.

Have you ever thought about how to flip your way to retirement? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

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Follow These 10 Habits to Financial Success

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Developing good financial habits can be a challenge. Many people aren’t taught much about money management growing up, and it is easy to fall into the trappings of debt, living paycheck-to-paycheck, and lifestyle inflation. But, if you focus, you can improve. If you want to make progress, here are 10 habits that promote financial success.

1. Spend Less Than You Earn

The first step for financial success is to spend less than you earn. This includes all purchases, including credit cards, as spending more than you can repay immediately is the pathway to debt.

Additionally, unless you spend less than you earn, savings will be practically impossible. You won’t be able to secure your retirement, purchase a home, or pay for a child’s college if you don’t have money left over to save and invest.

2. Track Your Income and Spending

If you don’t monitor your financial health, getting ahead will be incredibly challenging. Not only do you need to track how much you earn, but also what you spend and where. This gives you the ability to audit your choices, spot financial leaks, and make decisions based on data instead of an assumption about your fiscal well-being.

3. Automate Your Bills and Savings

When it comes to maintaining your financial health, automation is your friend. Set up automatic payments on as many bills as possible as well as deposits into savings, retirement, and investment accounts.

This creates a “set it and forget it” scenario, eliminating the chance that you’ll miss a payment or deposit because you forgot. However, that doesn’t mean you can stop monitoring your accounts, as it is wise to make sure that payments and deposits are going through properly.

4. Limit Your Ability to Spend

If you regularly make impulse purchases, then limiting your ability to spend spontaneously is wise. For example, don’t carry every credit or debit card with you all the time, particularly when you are heading to a place where overspending is common. Alternatively, you can opt only to carry cash, bringing just the right amount to handle a planned purchase with you when you shop.

By limiting what you have in your wallet or purse (or saved in your phone), you can gain control over impulse purchases.

5. Read Your Way to Financial Success

Staying informed is critical to your financial well-being. Before you sign up for a new credit product, read every detail to identify any hidden costs you didn’t notice previously. That way, you can make sure you know exactly what you are getting into before you proceed.

Similarly, read every credit card, loan, and bank statement carefully when it arrives. This gives you a chance to spot errors during the time window where corrections are possible. If you don’t notice an error quickly, you might not be able to intervene if the period during which correcting the discrepancy is allowed expires.

6. Never Rely on “Future” Money

Making financial decisions based on a possible windfall is typically trouble. For instance, counting on a raise before it happens or planning on an inheritance from a relative who is still alive can set you up for failure if it doesn’t come through. It leads you to spend based on cash you don’t genuinely have, and that can result in burdensome debt if your “future” money never arrives.

Instead, don’t allow yourself to believe that you have the money until you actually see it in your hand (or account). Otherwise, don’t count it as part of your financial picture, because it really isn’t until it arrives.

7. Set Financial Goals

While maintaining good habits is always beneficial, having specific goals can help you stay motivated. Plan for big purchases, retirement options, or similar financial events in advance and make them goals. Additionally, break down how much you need and use those goals to craft a viable plan to make them a reality.

By setting goals, you give yourself a target. Plus, as you make progress, you can use those objectives to remain focused, possibly making it easier to resist temptations and impulse purchases.

8. Resist Lifestyle Inflation

When you get a raise, you may want to adjust your lifestyle according to your new income. However, if you spend every extra dime, you aren’t working toward financial success. Instead, you are missing out on an opportunity.

If you are living comfortably and end up with a raise, resist the urge to spend and focus on saving instead. Boost your retirement contributions, build your emergency fund, or start investing. This allows your money to grow and provide you with protection, leaving you better prepared for the future and the unexpected.

9. Check Your Credit Reports

Every year, you can access your credit report from each of the three major bureaus for free. By checking your reports, you can get errors corrected and spot signs of fraud or identity theft, protecting your financial situation with due diligence.

Consider pulling one report every four months. That way, you have a rotating supply that increases the odds that you’ll spot problems quickly and empowers you to make smart choices going forward.

10. Avoid Minimum Payments

If you do have debt, minimum payments mean you will pay the most in interest. Instead of sticking to the minimums on high-interest debts, make paying them off a priority and throw every spare dime that direction. Additionally, resist the urge to add to the balances as you pay them down, as high-interest credit card debt is one of the most cumbersome financial situations you can encounter.

By following these tips, you can develop habits that lead to financial success.

Do you have a habit that will help you reach financial success? Share it in the comments below.

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Return to the True Meaning of the Season – Get In on Giving Tuesday

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Giving Tuesday is a way to de-emphasize some of the commercialism of the holiday season, by remembering what the holidays are really about – not Black Friday riots or Cyber Monday deals. But, instead, giving to the less fortunate, fostering goodwill toward all, and helping your fellow man. So, what is Giving Tuesday? Here’s a brief explanation and some Giving Tuesday ideas to get you started.

What Is Giving Tuesday?

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 as a way to counter the consumerism encouraged by Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales. Founding organizations included the United Nations Foundation, the 92nd Street Y, Skype, Mashable, Phoenix House, Starwood Hotels, Microsoft, Case Foundation, Aldo, Sony, Cisco, and Heifer International.

Giving Tuesday falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and represents an international day of giving that allows nonprofits, charities, and causes to push for a big boost to year-end fundraising. The intention is to create a new, unselfish habit of donating to charitable causes at the end of the year. In just a few years, Giving Tuesday has exploded in popularity, generating $274 million in donations in 2017. This year, it’s sure to be even bigger, and your organization shouldn’t miss out.

Giving Tuesday Ideas

Your organization can join the fun at GivingTuesday.org. Most organizations take to social media to promote their Giving Tuesday campaigns using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. Designate a point person within your organization who can round up volunteers from your network, spearhead the fundraising efforts, and collate the results with lessons for next year. Then get creative with some of these ideas to make the most of your 24-hour fundraising drive:

  • Ask each person who donates to tag five friends and ask them to donate. People are more likely to respond to a personal appeal from someone they know and trust – that’s why the Ice Bucket Challenge was so successful. Amplify your fundraising power by asking each donor to challenge specific friends to participate, too.
  • Start your campaign early. With Black Friday sales starting earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving Day, it’s fair to start your Giving Tuesday event on Monday night.
  • Promote the event on social media. Don’t be afraid to use hashtag power to get the word out. Use a platform like Hootsuite to schedule posts. Use YouTube or Facebook Live to run a traditional telethon event, announcing new donations and interacting with donors. Make things exciting – put your CEO in a dunk tank, show a progress meter, or hang donor’s names on a wall of giving.
  • Encourage supporters to use the hashtag #Unselfie to identify them on social media. If you’re having a brick-and-mortar event, use temporary tattoos with your logo, or some other identifying mark that supporters can photograph and post on social media.
  • Match gifts. Offer to match gifts given within the 24-hour timeframe to incentivize donations.
  • Collaborate with other organizations. Find out what other organizations or local businesses you can collaborate with to promote your Giving Tuesday event. Perhaps a local business can help you match donations, or contribute prizes to give away to lucky donors.
  • Perform challenges. Your staff can celebrate campaign milestones by performing challenges, such as posting a silly video of employees singing and dancing, jumping into a frozen lake, or getting an interesting haircut.
  • Ask supporters to donate the price of a morning coffee. Lots of people buy a coffee on the way to work. Ask supporters to donate the price of their drink, and when they get to your fundraising page, use price anchoring to encourage a larger donation.
  • Make Giving Tuesday a regular affair. Now that Giving Tuesday is becoming more established, many organizations are extending the holiday into First Tuesday, a monthly day of giving. Encourage donors to commit to a regular, monthly donation.

Giving Tuesday gives charitable and nonprofit organizations a chance to ramp up year-end fundraising numbers. It’s the perfect time to celebrate an international day focused on giving to your favorite causes and organizations. Don’t miss out on the fun! Last year, supporters gave $274 million, and they’re sure to give even more this year.

Is your organization ready to rake in some year-end donation dollars? Who will you be donating to this year? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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