When we think of Valentine’s Day, we often think of love in terms of romance, but there are other ways that love can be expressed as well – giving, sharing and being thoughtful towards others are all meaningful expressions of love. One of the many ways we can show those feelings is donating to others who are less fortunate than ourselves.

Most people agree that donating money to others is important, but the reality is everyone has limited funds and often donating money to others falls below other expenses and financial commitments on our priority lists. It’s easy to say “I’ll give next time”, and most do have good intentions, but without a proper plan for setting that money aside, it can be difficult for many people to find spare money that they can afford to donate or give away.

The best way to ensure you have a little extra to give away, is to build it into your budget and designate a certain percentage specifically to giving to others. This resource below is perfect for teaching this habit to kids, as it helps them prioritize and divide up a larger sum of money into individual saving, spending and sharing amounts.

https://talkwithourkidsaboutmoney.com/resources/spend-save-or-give-on/

Donating creates a special feeling inside and often does just as much for the person giving as it does the person receiving. It always feels great to show love to others, just as it feels equally good to be on the receiving end and know others out there care about you.

Many people live on tight budgets and have little extra beyond their everyday expenses, but every little bit matters and no amount is too small. Everyone donating just a little bit, makes a collective huge impact on those in need. Teaching kids how to save money specifically for giving to others, helps teach them an important skill, allows them to feel good about themselves and really makes a positive impact on others, all at the same time.