Post Reports I want to give back! How do I afford it?
7 snips
Dec 20, 2025 
Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist for The Washington Post, dives into the art of giving back without financial strain. She emphasizes budgeting for charity, sharing how tithing can foster discipline and gratitude. Balancing debt and donations, she suggests volunteering as a meaningful alternative. For trustworthiness, she highlights ways to vet charities and offers strategies for involving children in community service. With practical tips, Singletary inspires listeners to weave intentional giving into their lives.
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Make Giving A Budget Line Item
- Build charitable giving into your budget and give from your abundance after covering essentials like housing, food, savings, and retirement.
- Use a percentage-based approach (Michelle Singletary tithes 10% of gross income) to create discipline and clarity in spending.
Gratitude Rooted In Family Rescue
- Michelle Singletary credits her grandmother for rescuing her and raising five grandchildren, which shaped her lifelong commitment to giving back.
- That personal history motivates her to give time and money whenever she earns income.
Giving Reinforces Gratitude
- Giving cultivates gratitude by reminding you that others helped you along the way and shaped your success.
- That mindset reframes money as part of a broader responsibility to support community needs.