Saving and Giving :: Save More | Spend Less | Give Generously
Save More | Spend Less | Give Generously
I can’t believe we’re already halfway through November. It’s going by in a hurry! And that means we’re halfway through the 30-Day Giving Challenge. Amy from Resourceful Mommy has today’s 30-Day Giving Challenge update and inspiration for us today. If you’re a blogger, she’s also hosting a linkup. If you’re not a blogger, hop over and join in the discussion by leaving a comment.
Kingdom First Mom is hosting this week’s 30-Day Giving Challenge post and link-up for bloggers. Contributing writer Amy has a fabulous article about involving your kids in the 30-Day Giving Challenge this year. This is a topic that’s on my heart this year. Click here to read Amy’s article.
Can you believe that it’s November already? The leaves are changing, the weather is cooling, and our hearts are turning toward a season of thankfulness. November also brings with it another opportunity to challenge ourselves to give.
If you’re new to the 30-Day Giving Challenge, it’s really quite simple. Each day of November, find a way to give. It could be a financial gift, a gift of time, baked goods for a neighbor… anything! It’s always amazing to watch God transform our hearts as we begin to look outside of ourselves and focus on giving to others.
One of the things that I’m challenging myself to do this year is to give the gift of time. That is often the most precious gift that we can give, isn’t it? I would also like to get our daughter Emma more involved in the 30-Day Giving Challenge this year. Here are a few of the ideas that I’m hoping to use for this year’s challenge.
Most of my ideas are simple and don’t cost a lot. Giving doesn’t have to be expensive. It also doesn’t have to consume our whole day. I’ve found that just paying attention helps me to be aware of quick and easy ways to give each day. When I’m not paying attention, I tend to be more me-focused and less others-focused. That’s why I love the 30-Day Giving Challenge. Each year it helps me refocus and get my eyes back where they belong and honor God by giving to others. And honestly… what better way could there be to get ready for the Christmas season?
As we move through November, don’t forget to follow the 30-Day Giving Challenge on Facebook and Twitter (#30DayGive) to be encouraged and share your stories.
So are you in? Are you ready to give? Do you have some creative giving ideas brewing?
If you’re a blogger, feel free to link up your giving post here. If you’re not a blogger, click the Leave a Comment link and leave your ideas in the comments. Let’s share those ideas so that we can join together and give like we’ve never given before. I can’t wait to hear how God uses you to be His hands and feet!
If you’ve been reading Saving & Giving for a while, you’re probably familiar with the 30-Day Giving Challenge. If you’re new, let me introduce you to one of my all-time favorite yearly events.
The 30 Day Giving Challenge was started by my friend Alyssa from Kingdom First Mom in 2009. She had a vision for a giving project, so she issued a challenge. Participants were encouraged to spend 30 days giving. This was no ordinary giving. Participants were asked to document their giving in a journal for 30 days. The giving could be big or small, time or money, whatever God prompted each one to do each day.
I participated on my own in 2009 and was changed. It was amazing to see God open my eyes to the simple giving that can be done each day if we just look for the opportunities. I was honored to become part of Alyssa’s team for the 2010 30-Day Giving Challenge, and I’m thrilled to be taking part again this year.
If you’re interested in taking on the challenge of giving in some way each day for 30 days, it’s almost time to begin. The 30-Day Giving Challenge takes place each November. We’ll be kicking things off right here on Tuesday, November 1.
If you want to start thinking about ways that you (and your family!) can get involved, check out the ideas on the 30-Day Giving Challenge site’s Get Involved page. There’s a planning calendar and some ways that you can share your giving stories throughout the month.
If you’re looking for giving inspiration, Myra from My Blessed Life will be sharing some ideas for giving each day on the 30-Day Giving Challenge Facebook page.
So grab a journal, start talking to your family, and get ready to be blessed as we GIVE.
If you’re a blogger, there will be an opportunity for you to link up your own post about the 30-Day Giving Challenge right here on Tuesday. Maybe you could post a little bit about the challenge so that your readers can start thinking about ways that they can give. Bloggers can find additional information about weekly link-up opportunities on the Blogger Info page of the 30-Day Giving Challenge website. Feel free to grab this button for your site too.
Today, as we approach the end of the 30 Day Giving Challenge, we are partnering with World Vision to offer a unique prize package that supports women and families around the world, giving them a hand up out of poverty.
World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. As an organization, World Vision is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people and serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.
I love how they summarize their vision:
Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness; Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so.
Many of the donations to World Vision’s Maximum Gift Fund, which provides for the unique needs of children and families worldwide, also include a special gift to keep or give to someone else, such as the tumbler, bracelet or book that are included in the prize package below!
As part of the 30 Day Giving Challenge, I will be donating prize package I received and we’ll be choosing an entrepreneur to support with the micro loan gift card.
One Saving & Giving reader will also win a World Vision prize package to keep or donate, including:
To Enter:
If you are reading via email or in a reader, please click through to the post to enter.
For up to (2) bonus entries:
The other bloggers leading the 30-Day Giving Challenge are also giving away World Vision gift packs. Stop by each of their sites for more chances to win!
Shopping is on everyone’s mind this time of year. The first step to having a frugal holiday is of course, a budget.
Are you familiar with the envelope system of budgeting? Basically, you budget according to certain categories of expenses and then you actually withdraw the cash and keep it in separate envelopes in your wallet. Once the cash is gone, it’s gone. You can read more about the cash envelope system of budgeting in my Build a Better Budget series.
Frustrated with paper envelopes and disorganization with her wallet, Melinda Claudpierre created a wallet that allows you to keep your cash in separate categories and also gives you quick access to your driver’s license, coin holder and all of your discount cards and coupons.
As a stay-at-home mom of three, Melinda knew that she wanted all of these things without sacrificing style, and so she designed the Savvycents wallet as an attractive wallet that any woman would love to carry!
The 8? x 4? wallet contains everything you need to organize your monthly or weekly budget using a cash system. With an accordion style file system inside the wallet, you can separate money, coupons, receipts or store discount cards by categories. There are also 6 pockets for debit cards and store discount cards as well as a place for your driver’s license and check book.
I’ve been using my Savvycents wallet for six months, and my cash is so much more organized. I had been using paper envelopes before, but they ripped or got lost in the bottom of my purse. Now I can open my wallet and easily see how much cash is left in each category. If I find a cute top for my daughter, I can see if there’s clothing money available to buy it or not. I’m not fumbling through envelopes when I check out either. The Savvycents wallet is stylish and functional.
One Saving & Giving reader will win a Savvycents wallet ($24.95 value) to share or enjoy!
To Enter:
If you are reading via email or in a reader, please click through to the post to enter.
For up to (2) bonus entries:
This giveaway ends at 9pm ET on Tuesday 11/30. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well. Must reside in the USA and be 18 years old to enter.
The other bloggers leading the 30-Day Giving Challenge are also giving away Savvycents Wallets. Stop by each of their sites for more chances to win!
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