Elton John Tops Emergency Financial Assistance

When it comes to emergency financial assistance and charity organizations, Sir Elton John is at the top. The Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has been in action for almost twenty years and has raised millions of dollars for the AIDS/HIV cause. The EJAF has just confirmed that its Awards Viewing Party will be held for the 19^th year, and this year’s hosts will be Elton John and David Furnish. The event will take place on February 27, 2011, at Los Angeles’ Pacific Design Center, and festivities will begin with a cocktail hour at 4:00 PM, followed by an elaborate dinner and then the main event: the Oscars. This year’s meal will be prepared by James Beard Foundation winner Chef Ludo Lefebvre.

Online donations are gratefully accepted by EJAF and will serve to work toward a cure for HIV/AIDS. Sir Elton said he would hold the event every year until a cure was found for the deadly disease. Sir Elton has held up his end of the deal and is routinely supported by the biggest stars in the world, including many Hollywood legends.

Over $125 Million Raised for Emergency Assistance

Since Sir Elton founded the organization in 1993, EJAF has managed to raise over $125 million. The monies have been used to educate and help people living with HIV/AIDS and to eliminate prejudice throughout 55 countries.

“2011 marks the 30th year since the disease we have come to know as HIV/AIDS was first observed by physicians in American patients,” said Sir Elton.

EJAF has proven itself to be one of the largest and most successful charity organizations providing emergency financial assistance on the planet.

Need money for high school? There’s a scholarship for that!

Here at MicroGiving, our soul mission is to help you raise money for your needs, your ideas, or your causes. But we also recognize that saving money and cutting down your expenses can be a great way to supplement your fundraising goals. You may, in fact, find out that you don’t need as much as you initially thought.

Our good friend Alan Dunn edits a fantastic website chock-full of tips on how to save money. And guess what its called?

www.HowToSaveMoney.com

HowToSaveMoney.com. Now that’s an easy one to remember!

As it happens, Alan also the inaugural sponsor of a new scholarship founded by Yakezie – the web’s largest network of bloggers on personal finance and lifestyle. The scholarship is geared towards high schoolers and below – to help them with education-related expenses, such as tuition fees, school supplies, books,  projects, field trips, and anything else needed for school. So if you know a high schooler or below who is passionate about education and motivated to achieve, tell them about this great opportunity!

The application process is simple:

Choose one of the three topics and write an essay anywhere between 700 and 1000 words.

Essay Questions (choose one):

1) Who is your hero and why?  What are the attributes your hero possesses that makes you admire him or her so much?  Compare these attributes to your own and tell us your similarities and where you can improve.  What steps will you take to become more like your hero?

2) Discuss a time when you failed or did not live up to your full potential.  Assess the things that prevented you from achieving what you were aiming for and analyze what you would do differently if you had another chance.  Do you let failure motivate you or keep you down?

3) What kind of skills do you learn through sports that can help you succeed in life?  Tell us a time where a particular aspect you learned from sports helped you get through a difficult time.  How do you plan to pass on your knowledge?

More detailed instructions can be found on the Yakezie site as well as a link to submit your essay.

And remember to check out HowToSaveMoney.com for tips and advice on saving money and building wealth for your future. This is definitely one not to miss!

Financial Assistance for Single Parents Supplemented by Fatherhood Programs

It’s no secret that the number of single-parent families continues to increase, along with the need for financial assistance. Financial assistance for single parents are available from all levels of the government, as well as private organizations, but more support structures are needed. Receiving aid can be a very humbling experience, but families need to be able to meet their basic needs. It’s no secret that single-parent families have been on the rise over the past several decades and it’s also no secret that higher education costs have raised dramatically as well. Governments need to start recognizing this trend and begin implementing more support structures to help. Financial assistance programs would improve with better funding, say’s the Center for American Progress (CAP). According to Nancy Pelosi’s senior adviser Wendell Primus, the Center hopes to receive $75 million in the upcoming budget for fatherhood programs because, “as a nation, we cannot allow fathers to forfeit the responsibility of a child.”

Fatherhood Programs Must Be Redesigned To Impact Financial Assistance for Single Parents

In order to provide the biggest impact in financial assistance for single parents, CAP wants to see current fatherhood programs redesigned. The current programs focus on marriage as a responsibility, rather than providing men with classes on important issues such as housing, employment and parenting classes. CAP and other supporters, such as the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), recognize that just because a couple does not marry, or may divorce, the father should still provide a positive family impact. Arming them with the skills to make a sustainable difference to the family situation – through jobs and parenting – is as important as marital status to these groups. As Congress considers financial assistance programs for the upcoming budget, CAP and the NWLC would like to see fatherhood programs receive renewed attention.

There is a staggering number of single-parent families with children under the age of 18 and these children, and often the parent, dream of going to college. Like CAP and NWLC, Microgiving is working to create a sustainable difference to those in need.  As a donor, you can help make that sustainable difference and help us by providing financial assistance for single parents, or alternatively you can register as a recipient – please visit us at Microgiving today to see how we can help.

Grandparents in Need of Emergency Financial Assistance

Grandparents are in need of emergency financial assistance, according to the Pew Research Center. Across the US, one in ten children live with a grandparent. Of those children identified, 41% live permanently with a grandparent. Texas is a state that appears to be following the national trend.

Texas in Need of Emergency Financial Assistance for Grandparents

In fact, Texas is leading all other states. Over the past five years, the number of children in Texas living with a grandparent as their primary guardian has risen to 356,410. Of these families, 34% have lived below the poverty level at some point. Patricia Daniels is one such grandparent.

Ms. Daniels home-schools her grandson; she has cared for him since birth. But these are times of intense financial hardship for guardians like Ms. Daniels. Rather than focus on the negative, Ms. Daniels uses these moments to teach her grandchild how to prioritize needs versus wants. Her attitude is obviously infectious to her grandson, who knows how to joke, play and enjoy life.

According to experts at the AARP, situations affecting grandparents like Ms. Daniels are on the increase – a result of the rise in single parent homes, the poor economy, increasing substance abuse and incarceration. For a myriad of reasons, grandparents are facing second parenthoods and experiencing financial hardship as they struggle to both provide for their grandchild and make ends meet.

Grandparents throughout the nation who are currently in this situation should remember that they may qualify for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). If so, they may receive a monthly stipend to help with the care of their grandchild. In addition, the children may be eligible for Medicaid or one of several Children’s Health Insurance Programs. For help with food, grandparents may also visit the local food pantries and apply for food stamps.

Microgiving applauds those grandparents providing primary care for their grandchildren, who are on a fixed budget and very often unable to work. If you can help provide emergency financial assistance as a donor – or you might benefit from our assistance as a recipient, please visit our website.

Financial Assistance for Single Parents Cut in California

Financial assistance for single parents has been “blue-lined” from California’s budget by Governor Schwarzenegger. This means that there will be no more Stage III help for working parents struggling to meet childcare costs. Stage III was developed as a form of subsidy help to cover childcare costs, for parents making a “turnaround”. These are parents who were previously on welfare, but had since stayed off the state assistance for at least two years.

Cutting Single Parents’ Financial Assistance Saves State $1 Billion

Schwarzenegger’s pen may be saving the state $1 billion dollars for the rainy-day fund, but it is causing heartache and financial destruction to former recipients of childcare costs, largely to single parents across the state. According to one such victim, Desirea Lopez, “I’m probably going to have to quit my job.” Ms. Lopez is only one of 60 families in Mendicino County affected by the Governor’s decision. Along with the 60 families, there are 87 childcare providers and centers suffering from the cut.

Teri Sedrick, co-director of Rural Communities Child Care, believes the Governor’s action will result in job losses, not just for the single parent but for small childcare providers as well. Without the subsidy, single parents like Lopez who make an average of $8 to $12 per hour will not be able to pay the $800 to $900 dollars per month necessary for adequate childcare. As mothers drop from the work rolls and are forced to stay at home with their children, this will also have a negative affect on the demand for childcare providers and that sector as a whole.

Microgiving understands the growing need of single parents’ financial assistance, and unfortunately, as more states struggle to balance state budgets, more families will be looking elsewhere for help – if you would like to work with Microgiving as a donor to help those families, or you feel you could benefit from our assistance, please visit our website.

The Underemployed – Help People Affected to Help the Children

The need to help people , such as those that are underemployed, becomes clear when the effect of their financial situation directly affects their children.

To be underemployed generally means one of the following:

1) The individual is working in a job for which they are overqualified,

2) The individual is forced to work part-time because full-time work is not available,

3) The individual is earning less pay for the same amount of work they completed before underemployment.

Children of the underemployed are severely affected not just by the financial situation of their parents, but often by the long working hours that their parents are forced to work. Children whose parents are underemployed suffer in all facets of life, from their schoolwork, health, nutrition and mental status Research also shows that children in these situations emotionalize their parents’ stress and anxiety. Often, the symptoms of family stress include domestic violence and fighting.

Help People, Help the Children

The Executive Director at VOICES for Alabama’s Children says that the actual impact on children varies based on the individual family’s situation. That is, children from families of higher income who are experiencing temporary difficulty might miss out on something considered trivial, such as a summer camp, while children from families of the poor and very poor may lose out on basic nutrition and health care needs. The more financially severe a situation, the more chaotic the situation is to the children. How can you help people in these situations?

Microgiving understands the need to help people who are underemployed or facing unemployment – if you are able to work with Microgiving as donors, or you may benefit from our assistance by signing up as a recipient, please visit our website.

Micro Loan: Not All that Glitters is Gold in India

Women’s empowerment through a business micro loan may be losing its way in India. More and more women in business are accepting individual loans through non-banking micro finance companies (MFCs) operating in India. It should be noted that these lending programs are operating with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

A Micro Loan Becomes Difficult to Repay

Since the beginning of micro financing in 1994, approximately 80,000 groups representing one million business members have received micro funding. This lending program has been a success, to the extent that thousands of women have received much needed financial help.  However, with many non-banking MFCs entering the market simply to create profitability through exorbitant interest rates, the increased lending is NOT good.

Micro financing occurring through non-banking MFCs comes at a higher interest rate, often as high as 39%. MFCs lend to multiple individuals within a business group or company, versus lending to the group, or business entity. These individuals often become mired in debt as they borrow from one MFC to pay another. Women applying for these loans may be borrowing from four to six lenders at a time, with an average loan of $200 to $600 per lender. This debt load causes desperation among the borrowers, especially when the loans are being made without real income generation to support the micro loan.

Micro loans were developed to bring the very poor out of poverty. Microgiving encourages borrowers to be aware of MFCs operating to make a fast profit at the expense of the most needy.  Deal only with reputable lenders – or individual programs – that support micro financing for the purpose of helping the needy rather than creating the opportunity for profit.  If you are in need of short-term funds and would be interested in a micro loan, or would like to join our list of donors to help others, please visit our website.

Some Micro Credit Organizations Forgetting Mission

As micro credit organizations move to ensure their longevity through profitability, many tend to forget their original mission: to provide loan access to the very poor. That is, with the focus tending to veer more onto company profits, the hunt inevitably leads to a more “profitable” way of lending money, which often means that the poor ultimately lose out as organizations become more insular.

Extending Micro Credit to the Poor Costs More

The original micro finance concept was to fund business concerns for the very poor. If recipients are given access to these limited funds at reasonable loan rates, they can go on to create sustainable differences for themselves and their communities. Once the business concern is up and running, then repayment of the loan can take place and the next micro loan can be granted. New businesses and jobs are subsequently created by those who need help the most.

In 2007, Dutch economist Pim Engels determined to look at the profits of micro credit financing organizations as compared to the number of very poor customers receiving loans from those same financiers. Engels discovered that as the micro financing organizations grew in profits and looked more to their private operations, the number of poor individuals served subsequently declined – quite significantly. This is because, “It’s more expensive to finance poor business people: they borrow smaller amounts…and they pay the money back quickly.”  This ultimately equates to less profit for the credit organization. One way in which micro creditors have chosen to deal with the higher costs is to implement higher interest rates.

With these trends, Engels is calling for a return to responsible banking for micro credit lenders. That is, re-establish the basic mission: make loans available to the very poor at reasonable interest rates, and expect repayment quickly.

Despite the downward trend explained above, many such organizations are still providing funds to the very poor. According to Engel’s study, Mission Drift in MicroFinance, funding has not stopped but it has considerably slowed down. Unlike many of these organizations, Microgiving remains dedicated to helping the very poor. If you believe you can work through us as a donor, please visit us online today and see how our very own micro credit services are helping the poor.

Michigan Stepping Away from Those Who Need Help Paying Utility Bill

Some Americans will find it harder to seek help paying utility bill expenses. This is especially true for residents across Jackson County in Michigan. The Michigan state Department of Human Services has decided to drastically cut the amount of funding for people that need assistance meeting the cost of their utility bills.

Utility Bill Assistance Takes Lower State Priority

The cuts come as a result of fewer funds from the federal program Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). With the reduction of LIHEAP funds, max payments to families or individuals from the State Emergency Relief program for utility bill assistance will decrease by as much as 60%. For instance, for all electric households, the max cap will fall from $1,700 to $700 for the year.

This comes at a time when families in need are struggling to an ever-greater degree. From October 2008 to September 2009, Michigan’s State Emergency Relief program distributed a total of $2.2 million, amounting to funding for an average of 476 families per month, or 5,232 families for the year – roughly $480 per family. From October 2009 to August 2010, Michigan distributed a total of $3.4 million, funding an average of 635 families per month or 6,935 families for the entire period, amounting to an average payment of $487 per family.

As a result of this funding reduction, agencies like Michigan’s Salvation Army and Community Action Agency expect to see increased requests from people who need help meeting utility costs.

Thankfully, innovative new internet-based donation programs have been created to help those in need. Online crowd funding platforms, such as Microgiving are available for helping people to meet these basic needs. We hope our revolutionary new platform for micro lending will hopefully inspire further acts of charity on the web. We’ve make the process of giving or receiving far faster and easier. Please visit us today to become a donor to see how you can help, or register as a recipient today to receive help paying utility bill expenses.

Micro Lending Successful in Haiti

A Haitian micro lending program known as Zafèn has seen wild success since its inception six months ago. An online financing effort, Zafèn’s success has awarded lending to 300 projects for the Haiti effort. Businesses ranging from small to medium-size have received up to $140,000.

Zafèn’s Micro Lending Results in Quick Repayment

To qualify for funding from Zafèn, the business project must demonstrate a positive impact throughout the community by going green, hiring additional employees or creating work efficiencies. Four organizations came together to found Zafèn: the International Vincentian Family, DePaul University in Chicago, Fonkoze (a bank in Haiti set up to help the poor), and the Haitian Hometown Associations Resource Group. These four agencies have collaborated to create access to funds that would result in a sustainable difference, rather than simply providing financial aid. The agencies credit the idea behind establishing Zafèn to micro financing leaders such as Kiva and the Grameen Foundation.

Zafèn’s micro lending efforts are particularly well-placed. Program funds have allowed 1,500 children to receive scholarships and 51 entrepreneurs have been supplied with micro-loans. Already, entrepreneurs that have been awarded loans have already started repayments. In fact, two of the businesses have fulfilled their loan repayment completely, while another seven are in the repayment process.  Some of the projects that have been awarded range from milk distribution to a solar water pump for a plant nursery, to farmer training on crop diversification – all efforts that can make a huge difference.

Microgiving is excited to hear of the success of Zafèn. When agencies and people collaborate, the results can be astounding. Like Zafèn, Microgiving works with donors and recipients to create sustainable differences across all communities. If you would like to join Microgiving and take part in micro lending, please visit our website – and prepare to be astounded!

Micro Loans Available Through Federal and State Levels

Small business entrepreneurs are turning to micro loans at federal and state levels, with standard lenders keeping a tight hand on loan funds. These federal funds are available to business owners and entrepreneurs via the Small Business Administration (SBA). Currently, the cap on small loans through the SBA has been raised from $35,000 to $50,000 as a result of the Small Business Jobs Act, which was signed into law only last week. The law also extends the term of a loan repayment up to five years.

Tennessee ECD-BERO Awards Micro Loans Through ARRA Funds

Not only are the Feds stepping up loans to micro-businesses, but states working through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are also doing the same. During the same year, Tennessee’s Economic and Community Development (ECD) agency created the Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO). Both BERO and the ECD were developed to help micro-business entrepreneurs in Tennessee to grow their businesses, leading to the ECD-BERO Rural Micro Loan Fund.

Jane Easterly of Cleveland, Tennessee, contacted BERO when she decided to start her new business venture – Recycled Elements of Design. Her business recycles materials left behind from interior design projects and turns them into fashionable purses. Funding from BERO allowed Easterly to create a business plan and receive business micro loans of $10,000. Thanks to the funding from BERO, Easterly has hired expertise to help identify her primary customers and create a marketing strategy.

Microgiving congratulates recipients like Ms. Easterly and other small business entrepreneurs who seek creative ways to meet their needs. Microgiving works to help those in need by doing just that: micro-giving. If you would like to help others, or you could benefit from the assistance of our donors, please visit our website and see how micro loans can help.

Corporations Turn to Facebook Members to Direct Charitable Resources Through Crowd Funding

Major corporations are utilizing Facebook members to direct their crowd funding resources. Buddy Media Platform has identified five of the latest trends on Facebook, one of which involves Facebook members driving corporate charitable giving via a voting system.

Trend Viewed as “Crowd Funding” to Direct Charitable Resources

Buddy Media has described how more and more corporations are turning to this method of donating. As an example, in 2009, discount retailing store Target asked Facebook members to determine where its $3 million in charitable donations should be directed on a weekly basis.

This year, Chase’s Community Giving program turned to Facebook members for crowd funding ideas of where to send its donations. This campaign has since come to a close, but Facebook members directed $250,000 to HP Alliance in Somerville, MA, and this is only a fraction of the $5 million that Chase has pledged to donate to 200 charities, all of which will be decided by Facebook members.

Yahoo also recently utilized a similar concept to raise over $100,000 dollars for cancer charities. The company pledged a $1 donation to “Stand Up For Cancer”, for each “like” vote received on their OMG! Facebook Page.

Kohl’s, another firm that is turning to Facebook for its charitable efforts, is providing $20 million dollars to schools through the social media giant.

More and more corporations are using the concept to improve their own branding, while at the same time providing Facebook members with the ability to decide whom the recipients of each donation will be.

Microgiving fully supports the use of social media sites to prompt collective action, in order for corporations to direct corporate charitable resources in a responsible and democratic fashion. At Microgiving, we use your individual donations to collectively support, or crowd fund, those in need. If would like to take part in crowd funding yourself, please visit our website and donate online today.

Leaders of Charity Organizations Recognized

In dedication to recognizing leaders of charity organizations who show vision, passion and talent, a nonprofit independent organization, the Meyer Foundation, has just announced the five 2010 recipients of the Meyer Exponent Award.

Exponent Award Expands Leadership of Charity Organizations

The Exponent Award rewards the vision and passion of nonprofit leaders in the Washington DC community by providing a grant of $100,000 to the successful nominee. The award allows charities to provide much-needed leadership training and fulfill other needs that a nonprofit agency may find difficulty in funding during times of economic uncertainty.

One of the recipients, Jean-Michel Giraud, Executive Director of the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place, managed to significantly increase his organization’s budget in 2010. In fact, successful appeals to donors have allowed the Community Council to increase its budget by 34% over 2009 so that it can continue to meet the greater needs of the community.

The other four Exponent recipients have seen successes across the areas of HIV/Aids education for teens, the rights of women who have suffered human trafficking and domestic violence, and advocating for children with special needs. Each of these leaders have pushed through difficult times and accomplished much for their organization this year.

Much like the charity organizations mentioned in this article, Microgiving strives in difficult economic times to meet the needs of individuals and families seeking financial assistance – if you are able to donate online, or might benefit from our assistance, please search our website and discover how charitable micro credit can help today.

Federal LIHEAP Funds Helping Poor People Across All States

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has set about the business of helping poor people through state grants. According to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, “During these times of economic uncertainty, far too many Americans face difficulty affording the basics, such as utilities.” So how do these grants work?

LIHEAP Grants for Helping Poor People Vary Across States

LIHEAP funds are geared to helping low-income families pay for cooling and heating their home, as well as weatherizing it. The funding is being released on the heels of $490 million in emergency contingency funds which have already been provided throughout the states. To ensure that the poor are being provided with ongoing energy assistance, the feds have committed another $101 million in spending across the nation. Within the past day, several states have already announced their new LIHEAP awards.

Awards by state vary greatly. For instance, New York is receiving 12.7 million in help while Arizona is receiving approximately $420,000. Michigan will receive 5.5 million, New Jersey 3.9 million, Tennessee 1.3 million, and Arkansas will see $659,810. This is because funding has been allocated based on old block grant allocations.

Before families can receive any form of funding, they must first qualify financially. If a family of four is living with a gross monthly income of less than $4,135, they are eligible for this assistance.  These federal funds are crucial in helping the poor, but a family must be at or below 225 percent of the federal poverty level to be granted assistance.

Microgiving supports and acknowledges the helping of the poor through federal programs such as the ILHEAP. In truth, any entity that helps those in need through good, honest means is okay by us, but we also realize that families working above the assistance level are struggling as well. If you are interested in helping poor people in need, or may greatly benefit from charitable assistance yourself, please search our website or donate online today.

Emergency Financial Assistance for Seniors

Additional emergency financial assistance will be provided to senior citizens by eleven California social service agencies, thanks to contributions from the SCAN Health Plan. SCAN is a Medicare Health Plan operating in Arizona and California.

Because the health plan focuses on seniors, SCAN is acutely aware of the growing and unexpected needs of the senior population. These needs often include financial assistance for senior citizens, required for any number of reasons, from job loss to unexpected illness.

Need for Emergency Assistance Will Rise as Joblessness Increases

Each agency will receive a grant of $15,000 that will be used to help establish funds for one-time emergency assistance to qualifying seniors. Payments can cover a myriad of expenses including transportation, food assistance, utility bills, rent, home repairs and necessary modifications for homes to help with mobility, such as hand bars. The total commitment amounts to $165,000, split between the 11 agencies. It follows a prior dedication of $225,000 in 2010 to the same cause across SCAN communities.

This need for financial assistance for seniors will surely see an increase. According to the Census Bureau, the incidence of poverty increased by nearly one full percent for people aged 55 to 64 between 2007 and 2009. In addition, the current unemployment rate for the over 55 group is 7.3 percent, representing a two-fold increase over this period last year.

As older workers and retired seniors become the new poor, their need for emergency assistance will inevitably rise. Microgiving.com is dedicated to providing relief to those in need. If you would like to donate online to seniors in need of emergency financial assistance, or you may benefit from Microgiving’s help yourself, please visit our website.

7 Healthy Foods For Under $1

by Becky (aka. Rayhawk)

We’re all trying to budget frugally these days, but sometimes it’s tough to budget and eat healthy at the same time. Your grocery bill can get expensive if you’re thoughtless when you grocery shop. In other words, the more thought you put into the dietary needs of each family member, the less you will actually spend in the end.

In fact, when you begin to consider the needs of each person in your family you’re likely to find that many items are either unnecessary or just plain unhealthy. For example, many families spend large amounts of money on meats. Reducing your meat to very small portions is not unhealthy. The recommended daily allowance of meat intake is no more than 3 oz – the size of a woman’s palm. Moreover, you’d be surprised how cheap healthy food can be when you do the math. Here is a list of 7 healthy foods for under $1:

Rice . Rice is the most consumed food item in the world. Rice is the staple food for many countries and brown rice in particular retains a lot of nutritional value! At a mere 3 to 4 cents per oz. you have yourself the foundation of a great healthy meal.

Oatmeal. There are great health benefits in oatmeal. Oatmeal is high in dietary fiber and is proven to lower cholesterol while optimizing your cardiovascular health as well. At a mere 42 cents a pound, you have yourself a great breakfast to kick start your day.

Potatoes. High in fiber and low and other essential nutrients, potatoes are a great staple to any diet. However, avoid the globs of sour cream and bacon bits! Potatoes market around 40 to 60 cents per pound.

Eggs. Great source of protein and makes for a healthy breakfast for a mere 20 cents or less per egg.

Popcorn. Low in calories and fat, popcorn makes for a great snack food. Loose kernels cost about 75 cents per pound making it one of the most affordable food items

Apples. These guys are loaded with antioxidants and are proven to reduce the chances of cancer. Apples can be purchased for around 70 to 80 cents per pound.

Lentils. Another great source of protein, one cup supplements more than a third of your recommended daily intake and can be purchased for around 90 cents per pound.

Be conscience of the actually dietary requirements of your family when it comes to grocery shopping. Cut back on the consumption of meats and focus on these items to meet the needs of your family and your budget!

Would love your feedback…

• What are some other cheap grocery items?
• What are ways that you cut down your grocery bill?

Gift Giving Ideas

Need a few gift giving ideas? We’ve got a few unique gift suggestions that won’t drain your wallet.

So you’ve got roughly one dollar and thirty-two cents sitting at the bottom of a cheap ceramic piggy-bank. You’re gonna need more than that, (but at least you’ve got the tax covered on the wrapping paper). You’ve looked under your futon and jammed your fingers between the crusty seats of your 1976 family station wagon. You’ve checked the shoebox under your bed. You even tried to pull out your front tooth to shove under your pillow for that frugal fairy. Sigh—no luck.

Ok. Let’s get creative.

Here are 12 Great Gift-Giving Ideas that won’t break your bank!

Themed Gift Baskets

Who doesn’t like movies, popcorn, and candy? Throw together an entertainment basket that includes your favorite “must see” DVD, or a movie rental coupon (and don’t leave out the some snow caps and gummy worms)!  How about an Asian-themed-cuisine? Visit an ethnic market and put together a sushi-kit. Include seaweed paper, chop sticks, and soy sauce (for all of you sodium friendly patrons).
Credits to Rayhawk for her comment on Medical Research Links Gift Giving to Longevity!

Personalized Calendar

The internet offers a multitude of calendar templates. Get creative and personalize a calendar for someone you love and include pictures of your fondest memories with them. Mark in any special dates such as Birthdays and Holidays. Maybe roll up a few dollars and stick it on a random Saturday for an “ice-cream” date.

Magazine Subscriptions

These are great because the novelty lasts all year. It’s like a new gift every month! Magazine subscriptions are suitable for just about anyone and they’re a great gift-giving idea if you don’t know what to get someone.

• For example: It’s your father-in-law’s birthday and you’re not sure if the technicolor pentagram and penguin tie you’ve chosen will suit him (but you know he likes to fish) so get him a subscription to Outdoor World!

Board Games

Bring back nostalgic memories with a classic, old school board game! You’re bound to get a shriek of excitement as the receiver of this novel gift idea recalls the old days!

Herb Garden

Purchase a plastic rectangular gardening tray ($2.57 at Home Depot) along with an array of assorted seeds like basil, rosemary, and thyme. Tell them you’ll be back in a few weeks to reap the harvest!

Muffins & Locally Made Jams

Support small businesses and stimulate your local economy!

BIG Jar of Candy!

Purchase a large jar (thrift stores have lots of fun shapes and sizes), and fill the jar with gummy bears, lollipops, tootsie rolls, and laffy taffy (I’m getting hungry). Dollar stores usually sell bulk candy for cheap! Tie lots of colorful ribbons around the lid and throw in a toothbrush too.

Office Stationary Gift-box

The best gift giving ideas are practical everyday items that we always need and use. Put together a gift box full of desk supplies. Include white out, a stapler, scissors, highlighters, pens, post its, paperclips, your homework…

Disposable Camera & Admission Pass to Wacky Tacky Land!

Some of the best gift giving ideas are experiential and can be enjoyed together. Play mini-gulf, bumper boats, laser tag! Take pictures and make lasting memories.

Deck of Cards and a mini bottle of gin (just kidding)

Purchase a deck of cards and a book full of card games! Make a night out of a good game of SNAP!

Homemade Gourmet Truffles

Store bought truffles can get pricey! However, gourmet truffle recipes are quite inexpensive to make yourself and they make an impressive gift-giving treat. 

A MicroGiving Donor Account

The best thing you can ever give someone is the gift of charitable ‘Giving’. Contact support@microgiving.com and we’ll gladly set up a Donor account for someone else on your behalf. The gift of giving is the most cost effective gift you’ll ever give in your life! It changes lives, makes you feel darn good, and there’s no gift of monetary value that compares.

Birthdays, Gift Giving, & Budget Busters! How To Swallow BIG Expenses

We’ve all had surprise expenses creep up at the most inopportune time!

The mini van starts to make a weird clunking noise. You’re air conditioning unit self-combusts. You thought Junior’s birthday wasn’t until March… and then you realize it’s March.

Planning ahead of time for those unexpected surprises can save you a tremendous amount of hassle.

Here’s an easy tip that will help you tackle those bloody budget busters. Plus, stash away some extra for charity, or personal gift giving (you know: those people you wish you could do something nice for but you’re too darn broke)!

Step #1

Make a list of all those budget busters that creep up yearly and estimate how much you think they’ll cost.

• For example:

1. Christmas = $400
2. Charity & gift giving = $300
3. Car Repairs = $1,000
4. Home Repairs = $1,800

Step #2

Now that you have annualized the cost of these expenses, divide each sum amount by 12 months to create a monthly savings plan that will ensure your budget is never again busted!

• For example:

Charity & gift giving = $150 / 12 months = $12.50 (to put aside monthly)

That’s not very hard is it? That’s 12 Great Gift-Giving Opportunities!

It’s easy to swallow big expenses when you take them in small bites.  When you plan ahead of time, you wisely protect yourself against those surprises that will break your bank!

Have you ever been unprepared for a big expense? What are some other ways that you could save money for unexpected surprises, annual expenses, and personal gift giving?

Like this post? Share this link with your friends and family on Myspace and Facebook. Remember, when you promote MicroGiving others will visit our site and see you!

You can also promote us and you by clicking on the ‘Add This’ link found on the comment page.

Need Help w/ Your Bills?

Been there (it sucks). That’s when you need help creating a Cash Flow Plan. What exactly is a Cash Flow Plan? A Cash Flow Plan is the greatest plan you’ll ever make and it will save your derriere from losing electricity.

Have you ever worried that swiping your card at the grocery store would make your check bounce for the monthly utility bills? 10.3 billion dollars are paid out every year in overdraft fees. Ouch! Let’s learn a little lesson from these over-drafters. Here are 2 things you can do if you need help overcoming your worries:

1) Keep track of your money

Know how much money you’ve got… and don’t spend more than you have! The best way to do this is to record the amount of your monthly income, then record all of your expenses:

Here’s a very basic example of recording your Monthly Income:

Cash Flow Diagram - Income

Here’s a very basic example of recording your Monthly Expenses:

Cash Flow Diagram - Expenses

2) Create a Cash Flow Plan

Now that you know you have $1,050 every month, you can distribute your income across the items you’ve listed as your monthly expenses.

To create a cash flow plan get out a lined sheet of paper, a #2 pencil, and create two columns. In the first column list the Item. In the second column create two blanks separated by a slash mark ( / ). To the left of the slash mark, put the Item expense, and to the right of the slash mark put the remaining amount of your income. Work down the column—your total income should decrease as your expenses are subtracted. If you need help, here’s an example:

Item, $ Expense – $ Amount Remaining

Income = $1,050

Rent, $500 – $550

Utilities, $75 – $475

Groceries, $250 – $225

Gas, $150 – $75

Misc., $75 – $0

Total = $0

*Tip: Specifically put a name and a purpose to every dollar that you make!

Creating a cash flow plan will help you tremendously tackle your money problems! You’ll never worry if you’re going to have enough money to live, eat, and keep a roof over your head.

PLEASE NOTE: Cash Flow Plans don’t work if:

1. You over complicate your budget plan
2. You don’t apply your budget plan
3. You only THINK about creating a Cash Flow Plan

Creating a cash flow plan (and sticking to it), takes some discipline. However, We can’t stress how much it frees you from your financial burdens!

“He who is faithful and diligent in the little things will be given more to manage.”

How To Get More Online Donations: Tips for Charities & You!

We’re in an economic schhhlummp, remember?! That means you need to work your heiny extra hard if you want to promote yourself or your charitable cause. Donors are more selective these days and they’re not going to give away their frugal dollar to just any old needy Joe (there’s lots and lots of those around)!

Here are 4 tips to help you gain exposure and raise more online donations:

1. Use the Power of Technology: Technology is a Recipient’s and Charity’s best friend when it comes to online donations.  It’s one of the most effective ways to fundraise in the field of micro charity.  Think about the infinite ways that you can use internet fundraising to promote yourself, non-profit, or charity all from the seat of your computer! Here are a few online fundraising ideas:
   • Use Social Networking Sites: Social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are a few fantastic platforms to promote your cause by reaching a large global audience. Get your name out there! Promote your fundraiser by directing traffic to your MicroGiving profile.
   • Start a Blog: Talk about MicroGiving and your online fundraising in a blog (or online journal).  Actively seek out other people who are blogging about similar interests and leave thoughtful comments on their page. Other people will see your comment which will promote more traffic to your fundraising profile page.
   • Step It Up A Notch: Another way to increase traffic to the MicroGiving site and increase your profile visibility is through our own blog. If you like this post, share it! Simply click on the ‘Add This’ link at the bottom of this post and share it on Delicious, Digg, Technorati, and StumbleUpon. Other people will find us and you! You’ll be doing yourself and MicroGiving a BIG favor!
   • Use Social News & Bookmarking Sites: Digg, Delicious, and StumbleUpon are great resources to target the kind of people who will help you raise micro donations. Search for popular articles relevant to micro charity, online micro donations, and online fundraising—and identify the audiences bookmarking them. This will allow you to find the right network of people. Plus you might gather some great fundraising ideas that you never thought about!
   • REMEMBER! Technology is a tool, and like all tools, they need to be ‘used’ in order to be effective. So get out there and take advantage of the world wide web!
2. Be Active: The biggest mistake that “fundraisers” make is not dedicating enough time to cultivating organic relationships with potential Donors. Fundraising takes time and generating online donations rarely happens over night! Be patient, and be active. Participate in the forums, engage other members of the community, encourage others, and show the world that you’re serious about your cause by caring enough to participate and be active.Too often, Recipients and Charities create a profile and do nothing with it! Don’t let your fundraising page rot away in profile purgatory…get out there and do something!
3. Be Vocal: Promote your profile or charity fundraiser by word of mouth. Tell your friends, family, neighbors, cats, and dogs.  Share links to your fundraising page through email, SMS, social networks, twitter, etc  and spread the word around like a wild-fire. The only way you’ll ever raise online micro donations is to communicate and tell people about your fundraising cause.
4. Use MicroGiving! MicroGiving is a great resource to raise online micro donations because our platform doesn’t cost a nickel to use!  Nor do we take a percentage of the donation money. Recipients and Charities can be assured they receive 100% of the micro donations that they raise. However, the internet offers a number of other great similar resources like YourCause.com and FirstGiving.com (check them out)!

What are some of your fundraising tips? Have you experienced more online donations by doing any of these suggestions? Leave your feedback!

Remember…. If you like this post share it through the ‘Add This’ link (see below)!