I like to think of myself as a pretty charitable person, and set aside weekly from my paycheck for that purpose.
The biggest issue I think is of who to give the money to.
I try to give to places that have an impact on things surrounding me, such as:
- Organizations that have had an impact on my life
- Donating to support someone else’s goals (like running a marathon)
- Organizations that truly need it
With some of these, I frequently come across them again, and wonder how often I should give to them.
Because of this I tend to make a few days a year when I focus on giving charity, such as my Birthday, right before New Years (Rosh Hashana) and right around Purim. Of course, if things come up in between, the door is always open.
As for how much I give, this depends on how often I think I will be giving to an organization…If I think I will be giving often, I make an approximate number for the year and divide it up throughout. Another factor could be how much a connection I have to what the organization stands for vs. why I am giving to them.
While it is none of my business, I think everyone should set aside a portion of their paycheck, a set %, that they take out weekly, immediately upon receiving their money. Personally, I have a separate checking account (as well as a spreadsheet) in which I keep track of the money and know how much I have to give when requested.
Aviously 