My pastor gave an interesting sermon this Sunday about investing in the kingdom. The message made me consider selling everything I own in order to help more people. But realistically, it really drove home the point that everything we are given is on loan from God and should be used for His glory.

There’s no doubt that we live in interesting times. We all know someone who’s been laid off or have experienced job loss ourselves. Millions of people are facing foreclosure or have already lost their homes. But at the same time we have to remember that as Americans, we are incredibly wealthy compared to the rest of the world. If you earn $10,000 a year you are richer than 87% of the world. If you make $50,000 a year you are among the richest 1% in the world. The next time I start feeling sorry for myself because I don’t have money to do something I know I’ll be thinking of those statistics.

But those statistics don’t really seem to match up with recent Barna Research that says that 17% of Christians say they tithe, but only 3% actually give 10% or more of their income to God’s work. So if we’re among the richest people in the world, why aren’t we giving more? Here are three possibilities:

1. Unemployed: If you’re unemployed you have no income and therefore you don’t have anything to give.
2. Debt: A recent anonymous survey of a 2,000 member church in my community found that as a whole they carried $35 million in consumer debt. This did not count mortgages. If you’re laying under the weight of debt, how can you be free to give?
3. Unwilling: We don’t trust God enough to believe that He is the ultimate provider. God never intended for us to keep everything He gives, yet often we hold on so tightly to our resources that they can’t be used for His plan. Or as author and pastor David Platt might say, we are living out a Christian spin on the American Dream, unwilling to give up what He gave us in the first place. Here is a video of Dr. Platt explaining this:

It seems like the freebies are a little on the slow side this week. Maybe companies figure people are enjoying the last few days and weeks before heading back to school. But here are the good ones I uncovered:

Free Cheesecake for Donation: Make a donation of at least $5 to Feeding America and you’ll receive a coupon for a free piece of cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. It’s redeemable at any restaurant location across the US. That’s a win win!

Free Organic Welcome Kit: According to Coupon Cravings, Organic Valley is giving out free Farm Friends Welcome Kits when you sign up for any of the monthly e-newsletters. Allow up to four weeks for the kit to show up in your mailbox.

Free Purina Sample: Get a free sample of Purina ONE dog food by filling out a short form. The offer is from Sam’s Club, but you don’t have to be a member to get the freebie.

Free Burt’s Bees Toothpaste: Fill out a short online form to score a free sample of Burt’s Bees toothpaste. Samples take 8-12 weeks to arrive and by signing up you are agreeing to receive an e-newsletter from the company.

Many churches have ministries that support families when new babies arrive or when a tragedy strikes. Often different people in the church sign up to take the family a meal so that they can focus on the new baby or on their own health without having to worry about what to make for dinner. No matter what the issue is that they’re dealing with, they probably aren’t going to have much time to head to the grocery store and eating out every night would get very expensive. So by preparing these new parents or hurting families meals, you’re helping them out in a big way.

There is a free service that can help churches or organizations prepare for the arrival of a new baby or serve someone in need. It’s called TakeThemAMeal.com. The site was created after a loved one had a sudden heart problem and the family was suddenly bombarded by people wanting to help. Instead of the coordination falling on the family that is going through a big ordeal, now all of the planning and preparation can be done online.

Setting up a meal schedule is very easy. You simply write a short explanation of any dietary needs, the time of day when meals should be dropped off and if there are any other special instructions. Then people from your church can go on the website and choose which day works best for them. They can also see what types of food other people are already bringing. That way the family doesn’t end up with lasagna four nights in a row! Serving others in their time of need is what we are called to do as Christians. And this free website is a great resource for making that happen.

Through the years thousands of people have come to the aid of others in need. After 9/11 people traveled to New York and when Katrina hit they helped out in New Orleans. Now, there may be an even bigger incentive to give back while on a trip – you can get a tax write-off, reports Wallet Pop.

What is deductible? Your out-of-pocket expenses related to volunteering are. To qualify they must be not otherwise reimbursed expenses, directly related to the services you are helping with and not personal or family expenses.

A definite expense that is deductible is transportation. That includes gas and car maintenance, airlines, train, bus and parking fees and tolls, says the article. The cost of lodging and meals an also be included. Just be careful if you also add in some personal fun time. You can’t deduct those.

Since you are doing this to help others, make sure you don’t go overboard and stay at the most expensive hotel or eat at only five-star restaurants. Just consider how others would view your expenses, suggests Wallet Pop.

Consider even just volunteering locally if you can’t hop on a plane and travel somewhere else. You can still take a deduction for out-of-pocket expenses. And don’t forget you can still make a monetary donation to an organization and that’s also tax deductible.

As we all continue to follow this tragic story of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, as Christians we can pray but Ā there are also many ways we can give back financially to help the wildlife and the surrounding communities affected by the oil spill. Many of us may not be able to physically travel to the area and help clean up, but donating some money to these organizations can be very helpful.

Organizations Helping Wildlife:

National Wildlife Federation Gulf Oil Spill Restoration Fund

Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research

Audubon Nature Institute

Environmental Defense Fund

Friends of the Earth

EarthShare

Organizations Helping Surrounding Communities and People Affected by the Oil Spill:

Greater New Orleans Foundation

Oxfam America

Catholic Charities

Seedco Financial

If you’d like to keep track of how the clean-up efforts are going, you can check out the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Volunteers Facebook page. The Better Business Bureau suggests you do some homework before donating lots of money to an organization. Be careful of those that are inexperienced and brand new and know exactly where your money is going.

Musicians are coming together to raise money for the victims of a May flood that caused more than $2 billion in damage. Super stars Faith Hill and her husband Tim McGraw are organizing the Nashville Rising concert. “The musicians on stage have gone through it. Some of them have lost every instrument they ever owned, and some in the audience have lost their homes and their businesses. So we’ve been through this together, and we’re going to pull ourselves up,” Hill told Yahoo! News.

Performers include McGraw, Hill, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Lynyrd Skynrd, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and ZZ Top. Perfomer Julie Roberts is one of the flood’s victims, too. “We went upstairs to the second floor and had to wait to be rescued for about 5 1/2, 6 hours. We lost our home that day. We lost all of our belongings, all of our cars, but we were rescued and my four dogs were rescued,” she told Yahoo!. In addition to losing her home she broke her ankle. “It can heal. I’m alive and my mom’s alive and my sister’s alive, and I’m here to talk about it, and I’m here to sing tonight. So I feel very blessed.”

Ellen Lehman, president of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, says Nashville’s flood victims are starting to feel a major financial pinch. “Since the flood, (families) are not only required to pay their mortgage and the rest of their bills, but they’re also needing to pay rent,” she told Yahoo! News. “Going forward…they’re going to have to find the money to rebuild. That is a huge unexpected burden, and there will be people who can’t financially put together a package that will allow them to do that, and they’re going to have to walk away from their homes.” More than 37,000 people have filed claims with FEMA. Concert organizers hope to raise $2 million to help.

Between graduations, weddings and new babies, your gift budget is probably getting drained. You may feel like you have to purchase pricey gifts off of a registry or just hand over a fist full of cash. But if you’re a couponer you can use your cost-cutting skills to tackle more than your grocery budget. Here are some tips for using coupons to reduce your gift giving budget.

Surf Then Shop

Any couponer knows that planning is a big part of saving money. Before you hit a store to buy a gift, do an online search for printable coupons. Chances are you’ll find valuable ones that will either help you buy a better gift, or save money on the one you were already planning to purchase. Popular stores like Kohl’s and Bed Bath and Beyond often have printable coupons.

Buy Online

Shipping gifts can be expensive. Try buying your gift online at a retailer that offers free shipping. And before you order, go to shopping portal Ebates.com. You can get cash back at stores like Target, Nordstrom and Home Depot which are all popular for gift registries.

Go Practical

Instead of ordering off of a registry, go practical. This is an especially great option if you’re looking for a baby gift. Use your coupons to get cheap diapers, wipes and baby supplies. You’ll pay a fraction of the price and help get the new parents stocked up.

Assemble Gift Baskets

Grocery stores may not seem like the best place to get gifts. But think about assembling a themed gift basket. Put together an Italian or Mexican-themed gift basket full of ingredients you purchased with coupons. Your recipient will have no idea you used your couponing skills to create such a great gift.

Father’s Day is rolling around once again. It’s the one day of the year devoted to dear old dad. Lots of restaurants and businesses are offering up some Father’s Day deals just for dad. Here are some to check out and take advantage of:

Restaurant.com: Just in time for taking dad out to dinner on Father’s Day, there’s a deal at Restaurant.com. Use coupon code “FATHER” at checkout to get a $25 gift certificate for only $3. Plus you’ll get a free $10 gift from Lobster Gram with every order.

The Counter: Participating locations of The Counter are giving dad a free burger on Father’s Day with another order. Just make sure to mention the Father’s Day deal to take advantage of this tasty freebie.

TCBY: For the third Father’s Day in a row, TCBY will be handing out free frozen yogurt to dads across the country. Dads can choose to have their favorite flavor in a small cup or cone.

Denny’s: Head to Facebook and “like” Denny’s. You’ll get a chance to make a free Father’s Day card. Once you do that you’ll get a coupon for a free ice cream float with a purchase. If you’re lucky, maybe your dad will share it with you.

The Sportsman Channel is in Chicago today feeding the hungry with meat and fish donated by hunters and fishermen. The Hunt. Fish. Feed. initiative is a unique program that is providing thousands of meals to America’s hungry. Residents at Chicago’s Cornerstone Community Outreach shelter will be eating a dinner of game meat and fish donated by sportsmen. It’s just one stop in a multi-city tour to bring nutritious meals to those in need. “We’re thrilled to bring our Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative, a program that in its first year provided thousands of the nation’s hungry with nutrient-rich meals, to the Chicago community, especially during an economic time that finds more and more people in need every day,” said Todd Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer of Sportsman Channel, in a company news release. “We look forward to working with our partners at Comcast and Cornerstone to make this a successful and impactful event that will hopefully make a difference for Chicago-area residents.ā€

A green-living website Care2 wrote this about the program:

Why shoot an elk or a black bear though, when you could spend the money used for gasoline, bullets, permits, beverages and other hunting gear, on some much more affordable produce from a local market? And avoid killing wild animals. Thereā€™s already a massive food production infrastructure available that generates tremendous volumes of affordable food. In others words, itā€™s much cheaper to support people in need by donating food purchased from a local market.

But supporters argue that hunting and fishing will go on whether this program exists or not. This initiative provides a way for people to donate the wild game as a way to help others. Sportsman Channel started this multi-city tour in January, and will continue visiting one city each month.

Mother’s Day is May 9th. If you haven’t shipped your gift to mom yet, you still have time. Thankfully plenty of online store fronts are willing to help last minute shoppers out with offers like free shipping and sales. Here are a few options for saving on last minute gifts for mom.

MyPublisher: Make mom a photo book with MyPublisher by midnight tonight and you’ll get a free one for yourself. Just enter code MOM241 at checkout.

Shutterfly: There are lots of photo gifts to choose from with Shutterfly. And until May 4 you can save 10% on your purchase with promo code TAKE10.

Entertainment Book: For just $15 get mom an Entertainment Book. It’s a gift that will keep on giving her savings for the rest of the year. Go through shopping portal Ebates.com and you’ll get 25% cash back bringing the price down to $11.25. If you’re new to Ebates you’ll earn a $5 signup bonus which brings the price down to $6.25.

Kohl’s: Get free standard shipping at Kohl’s when you spend $75 or more and use coupon code MAYFREE75. You’ll have to place your order today though.

Edible Arrangements: Save $5 on your order from Edible Arrangements when you use code INET0510. This offer expires today.

Philosophy: Thru May 3 get free shipping on orders of $75 or more at Philosophy. Use coupon code amazingmom at checkout and you’ll save $9.95.

Could you go a whole day without wearing shoes? That’s what TOMS Shoes is asking you to do today, April 8, 2010, as a part of One Day Without Shoes. So what does being barefoot accomplish? It spreads awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life. Here are some facts from OneDayWithoutShoes.com about the importance of shoes:

* In some developing nations, children must walk for miles to school, clean water and to seek medical help.
* Cuts and sores on feet can lead to serious infection.
* Often, children cannot attend school barefoot.
* In Ethiopia, approximately one million people are suffering from Podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by walking barefoot in volcanic soil.
* Podoconiosis is 100% preventable with basic foot hygiene and wearing shoes.

You can help by getting involved in local events or buying a pair of TOMS Shoes. For every pair that you buy, another pair is given to a child who needs them.

Between birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, and weddings there are constantly demands pulling at our pocket books. My husband and I have really focused on staying on our budget this year, but it seems that just as soon as we commit to spending less, more requests pop up that threaten to attack our bank account. Because I don’t want to seem stingy and I believe in celebrating life’s important events, I try to reduce the impact of gift giving on my budget using these tips.

Plan Ahead

I have a birthday book that tracks my family’s important dates. I look ahead in this book every month so I know what gift giving obligations are coming up. That way I can be thinking of the perfect gift idea and searching for the best deals.

Keep Back-Ups

To avoid last minute gift shopping I usually try to keep back up gifts in our home. These are things like candles, spa items or gift cards that will be suitable for a wide variety of people. It reduces the chance that I’ll end up spending more on a gift than I would have wanted to just because I’m in a rush.

Go Practical

Sometimes practical gifts really are the best option. If you have friends who are expecting start looking for good deals on essentials like baby wipes, diapers and other needs. They’ll appreciate the gift and you’ll appreciate the savings.

Say No If Needed

Through church and other associations we get a lot of invitations to showers and parties. Sometimes we just have to say no and we can’t be afraid that someone will be offended. If someone invites you to an event, don’t necessarily feel obligated to attend. It’s better to politely pass than to spend money you don’t have on a gift.

The awesome people over at C28.com offered to give our readers a chance to win one of two Christian t-shirts. We plugged the numbers into Random.org and winner was chosen. Congratulations to #13:

Erika Says:
January 27th, 2010 at 12:55 am

This is actually the first time I have seen your blog.I would love the woman’s shirt for one of my daughters who is going to be a missionary after she finishes college.

Erika, I know your daughter will love her t-shirt! I’m actually wearing the same one today and I love it! Thanks again to everyone who participated and don’t forget to stop by C28.com and do a little shopping for Valentine’s Day!

To demonstrate ways that we can all show Christ’s love through our daily lives, my church has organized a creative outreach event. On February 7 our congregation will do what most of us already do after church– we’ll go out to eat. But rather than focusing on the food and rushing the meal so we can get on with our days, we’ll be paying attention to our servers. The goal is that this small act of kindness will help others feel God’s love.

Within just a few miles of our church there are 156 restaurants. And most of those restaurants probably staff several waiters and waitresses every Sunday. Whether they want to or not, they won’t be attending a Sunday service. Instead they’ll be filling water glasses and taking orders. Since they won’t be able to go to church, we’re bringing the church to them. After all, church isn’t the building, it’s the people.

Besides just leaving a tip when we leave we’ll be giving our waiters and waitresses a goodie bag. Inside will be several gift cards for movie theaters, gas stations or grocery stores along with treats like candy bars. They’ll also get a letter from one of our pastors and a stamped envelope so they can easily send us any prayer requests. As my pastor pointed out, the Bible makes an incredible statement about Jesus. It says, “Jesus went about doing good.” Often it was his simple acts of compassion that unlocked people’s hearts.

All of the members will hopefully chip in something to create goodie bags that will be a wonderful blessing to our hardworking servers, which means no one person will have to spend a lot of money to make it happen. I remember over a year ago when the person in front of me in the Dunkin Donuts drive thru paid for my coffee. That little step made a huge impact on my life and I only hope that this opportunity to server our servers will do the same.

What seemingly small ways have you blessed others or been blessed by others? Give us your ideas!

As we all have Haiti and making donations on our minds, I came across some websites that help you give back to a variety of charities. And all you have to do is log onto the Internet or use your iPhone.

Good Search

First, enter a charity or school that you wish to help out. Then start surfing the web. The search engine is powered by Yahoo! so you get great search results. Fifty percent of the revenue generated from advertisers is shared with the charity or school of your choice. There is also a Good Search shopping mall. When you click on one of their partner merchants and make a purchase, Ā the charity you chose earns money. It’s that simple. The shop includes stores such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Staples.

Free Rice

This is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Its goals are to provide education for free and help end world hunger. Now all you have to do is play a vocabulary game. Answer some questions and for each correct answer, ten grains of rice is donated. Since it began in October 2007, the organization has donated more than 73 billion grains of rice.

Free Kibble and Free Kibble Kat

This one is similar to Free Rice, but for those with a heart for animals. This site gives food to dogs and cats in shelters when you correctly answer trivia questions. For each right answer, ten pieces of Kibble are donated. Free Kibble has 14 shelters across the country. Since it began in April 2008, more than 215 million pieces have been donated.

If you have an iPhone, there is a cool application that also helps you donate to charities. Ā As you go around town, you “check in” with the shops or restaurants and earn Karma points. It’s called Cause World. When you click the donate button, you can choose from a variety of causes to help out. You can even donate your Karma points to help those in Haiti.

So do some Web surfing, use your iPhone and play some games to help others!

I’m excited to announce a giveaway here at Out of Debt Christian. If you’re looking for a great Valentine’s gift or if you just want a new t-shirt for yourself, enter to win a t-shirt from C28.com. C28 Christian t-shirts are well-made, feature cool designs and help you display your Christian faith in a creative way. The company says it’s a ministry first and a store second, a commitment it proves by preaching the Gospel, encouraging prayer and supporting ministries.

Because Valentine’s Day is approaching, you have the chance to win your choice of two t-shirts. You can either win this men’s t-shirt featuring the words “A heart without love is a life without meaning.”

Or you can win this women’s t-shirt that says “Love will keep us alive. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I received this t-shirt from C28.com and was very pleased with the fit– it’s modern, lightweight and well-made.

In order to win one of these t-shirts in time for Valentine’s Day, show us some love! Leave us a comment for one entry. To be entered a second time, subscribe to our feed and leave us a comment telling us you did that. For a third entry, tweet about this giveaway and leave us a comment telling us what you tweeted. A winner will be selected randomly through random.org on Wednesday, February 3. Thanks for playing!

An estimated hundreds of thousands of lives were lost because of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti this week. If you want to do something to help the survivors of this poor nation, here are some Christian organizations serving Haiti that need your help.

Compassion International: For more than four decades Compassion International has been working in Haiti. Compassion International matches donors with sponsor children and has helped more than 65,000 children and their families in Haiti. Your donation will be used to provide relief to those in Haiti.

GAIN-USA: The Global Aid Network is a multi-national network of ministries. They’re sending medical supplies, food and water to Haiti with the help of your donation.

Baptist Haiti Mission: Since 1943 the Baptist Haiti Mission has been serving this country. Their hospital in Fermathe is overflowing with victims needing treatment. Your donation will go directly to those who need it.

For Haiti with Love: This organization, For Haiti with Love, provides free medical care on the North Coast of Haiti. They’re expecting to serve more people and need help paying for additional medical supplies.

Mission Aviation Fellowship: As of right now, several of Mission Aviation Fellowship’s volunteers based in Haiti are not accounted for. The organization has set up a special fund just for serving the areas.

Food for the Hungry: Fifteen workers with Food for the Hungry are still unaccounted for in Haiti. The organization has a head start providing aid to this country because of workers they already have in place, but they need more funds to rush food, water, medicine and other life-saving help to this area.

CURE International: CURE International doctors in the Dominican Republic are responding to Haiti. Text CURE to 85944 to give a $10 mobile gift.

Bright Hope International: Bright Hope is all about serving the poorest of the poor. And now they want to help those in disaster-stricken Haiti. Your donation will provide supplies to the earthquake survivors.

Merry Christmas!! We hope you are having a fabulous holiday with your friends and family. But just because this is a day to take time to enjoy one another, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some freebies. Here are a few freebies– just think of it as my gift to you!

Free Gift Tags: You may have some gifts to wrap still– or maybe you ran out of gift tags and you don’t feel like finding a store that’s open on Christmas to buy more. Either way, enjoy these lovely free downloadable gift tags from EatDrinkChic.com. Keep in mind they are for personal use only.

Free Sausage Biscuit: Tired of cooking? Head to Waffle House– they’re open 24 hours every day– even on Christmas and New Year’s! Take this coupon to get a free sausage biscuit.

Free Bagel Poppers: Now through December 29 take this printable coupon to Einstein Brothers Bagels for free Bagel Poppers when you purchase a drink.

Free Aveda Products: Perhaps the holidays have you feeling a little stressed? Take this coupon into your local Aveda store and receive a free three-piece sample pack of Smooth Infusion shampoo, conditioner and style-prep smoother while supplies last.

I have a prediction to make about the days and weeks following Christmas 2009. With more Americans strapped for cash I have a feeling that more people will be wanting to return their Christmas gifts with hopes of getting money instead of that sweater, gadget or DVD. And I also have a feeling retailers aren’t going to like it. Stores like Target have already tightened their return policies, making it very difficult for shoppers to actually walk out with cash in their wallet and not just a gift card for future purchases. But what if that happens to you– what if a store won’t accept your return? Here are a few options:

1. Complain: Don’t like a store’s return policy? Let corporate know. If you feel you are being treated unfairly as a consumer then tell the higher-ups. Nothing may come of it, but you never know. Perhaps they’ll help you with your situation in order to keep you as a customer. But then again, maybe not.

2. Ask the Giver for the Original Receipt: These days even a gift receipt doesn’t guarantee the ability to return something with cash. Your best bet is having the original receipt in-hand. If you feel comfortable enough, ask the giver for the original receipt to make the process go more smoothly. You’ll have much better odds at getting money instead of a gift card.

3. Sell the item: If you can’t get cash from the store, try getting cash from someone else. List the item on Craigslist or eBay with hopes of getting a little money for your gift. This process may take a little longer and be more risky, but if you’re really desperate for cash– or you really don’t like the gift– then give it a shot.

So you’re nearly out of time and all out of money, but you still need a Christmas gift? Here are some last minute and free Christmas gifts.

Gift Certificate: No, we’re not talking about a gift certificate to a fancy restaurant. We’re talking about a certificate for something more heartfelt. Perhaps a weekly foot rub? Or a certificate for free baby-sitting? Think about what the recipient would really value that money can’t buy. And if you need a hand with gift certificate design, use these free templates from Regiftable.com.

Handmade Ornaments: Have some scraps of fabric like felt laying around? TwigandThistle.com has some great ideas for turning what you may already have around the house into a beautiful Christmas gift. Plus they are easy to make!

Heartfelt Letter: Letter writing is becoming a lost art. Take some time to write a letter from the heart to your loved ones. Chances are they’ll cherish it for years to come– long after a store bought gift would have lost its excitement.

Virtual Flowers: Create a virtual bouquet of flowers at Flowers2mail.com. It’s a free service (and fun to use!) so that you can deliver a personalized bunch of flowers to your loved one’s inbox.

Free Restaurant Gift Certificate: We’ve told you about Feed It Forward before, but it makes a great last minute and free gift, too. Just head to the website by the end of Christmas day to pass on your free restaurant gift certificates.

Gift cards make great last-minute gifts. They’re easy to buy, easy to wrap and easy to mail. Right now lots of retailers are offering perks when you buy gift cards from them. That way you can give to others and get a little something for yourself, too.

Little Caesar’s Pizza: Get a free $5 gift card when you buy a $25 gift card at Little Caesar’s Pizza. This is a limited time offer and must be done in the store.

Chik-Fil-A: Buy a $20 gift card at any Chik-Fil-A location and receive a free cow calendar full of great money-saving coupons, including some for free items.

Applebee’s: Get a free $10 gift card when you buy $50 in gift cards at Applebee’s. The offer is only available in-store, not online and for a limited time.

TGI Friday’s: Purchase $25 worth of TGI Friday’s gift cards in-restaurant and you’ll receive a $5 Bonus Bites card for free. The Bonus Bites card comes with some conditions including that it must be used between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2010.

PF Chang’s: Now through December 31, purchase $50 in PF Chang’s gift cards and you’ll receive a $10 gift card for free. You can order these online but in order to qualify for the free $10 gift card you must purchase one $50 gift card. At the restaurant you will be able to buy smaller increments.

LL Bean: Make a minimum of a $25 purchase at LL Bean between now and December 24 and you’ll receive a free $10 gift card valid on your next purchase. The card expires February 16, 2010.

Denny’s: Buy a $25 gift card for Denny’s and you’ll receive a free $5 gift card. These can be purchased online.

Outback: Buy $100 worth of gift cards at Outback and you’ll get a $20 bonus card plus a free music download from country group Sugarland. The bonus card must be used between January 1, 2010 and February 10, 2010. Only one bonus card can be used per table and the card must be used at one time. It will not carry an unused balance.

Red Robin: Purchase $25 in gift cards at Red Robin and you’ll receive $5 in Bonus Bucks. Or if you buy $500 worth of gift cards you’ll get a 20% discount.

Uno Chicago Grill: Purchase a $25 gift card online and you’ll receive a $5 bonus card for Uno Chicago Grill. The bonus card must be used by the end of March 2010.

Christmas is in a week! Are you ready? Take some time from your over-packed schedule to take advantage of this week’s freebies. Enjoy!

Free Digital Disney Books: Sign up and get seven free digital copies of Disney books. Find books that fit your child’s reading level. Read to them or get help from interactive recordings.

Free Music: Grab some free downloads from Jim Brickman. You’ll get five free holiday remixes.

Free Photo Mug and Prints: Are you a member of Snapfish yet? Join now and get loads of freebies including a free photo mug, a free set of 5X7 photo cards and 50 free 4×6 prints.

More Free Christmas Music: Don’t forget to continue to take advantage of the free Christmas downloads that Amazon.com is offering. There are lots of Christian Christmas tunes like Oh Come Emmanuel and Joy to the World.

Free Coffee: Take this coupon into your local 7-Eleven location for a free hot coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate or tea.

Free Bloomin’ Onion: Become a fan of Outback Steakhouse on Facebook and receive a free Bloomin’ Onion with the purchase of an entree.

Free Photo Flip Book: Head to Snapfish.com to make a free photo flip book. Use coupon code GMAFREE at checkout. Shipping isn’t included.

Chances are you’ve been really focused on others over the past few weeks. But what about giving yourself a Christmas gift? It may seem like a foreign idea, but give it a try– you deserve it!

A Gym Membership

Perhaps your gym membership was one of the items hacked from your budget in 2009. If so, consider what the bible says in 1 Corinthians.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 19-20)

Your body is a temple– treat it that way! If you can’t swing a gym membership buy some workout DVDs. You need your body to be able to serve God, so take care of it.

A Christian Finance Book

There are several great Christian finance books. Give yourself one this Christmas and make a plan to become debt free. The Lord does not want us to live owing money to others. Here is one verse that shows that:

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives. (Psalm 37:21)

Be a better giver by getting out of debt. Give yourself the gift of freedom and find inspiration in a great Christian finance book.

Prayer Journal

Give yourself a new prayer journal and set aside time with the Lord to write in it. As Christians, prayer is powerfully important. Give yourself the gift of prayer and understand the peace of God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

There are many different types of prayer journals. Find one that speaks to you and commit to using it regularly.

Time With Your Family

Your family is a gift from God. Treat it that way by setting aside some of the busyness of life and devoting extra time to your family.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD children a reward from him. (Psalm 127: 3)

Treat your children like the reward that they are and plan a special outing or trip just for your family.

I don’t know about you, but I am running out of creative ideas for Christmas gifts. These sites caught my eye because the gift cards not only put a smile on someone’s face, but it allows them t to give back to their favorite charities.

The Good Card: With this holiday gift card, choose your amount and they choose which cause they want to help out. Most people have a charity that means a lot to them. With the money you put on The Good Card they can choose to make a donation to any of more than 1.8 million organizations. The cost? Your donated amount and Ā $5 handling fee per card.

The Good Card can be ordered online or through snail mail. The card is good for six months and is also tax-deductible for the buyer. To redeem your gift card visit the site’s redeem page, type in your charity then click donate now. Let’s say you’re a business owner and want to give a gift with some special meaning. Order them for your clients, employees and customers. Show your passion for giving back. You can even co-brand the corporate version of The Good Card. Get creative and even design your own!

TisBest Charity Gift Cards: This site is the same idea with a few differences. Choose from tons of different designs for the cards with Christmas and Birthday ones to name a few.You can even customize it and upload your own image for the card. You can print the cards on your home printer, an instant gift card by e-mail or regular mail. If you select snail mail, it comes with a greeting card and you can add a personal message.

There is no extra charge for printing or e-mailing. If you want a plastic card, it’s a $1.49 fee. With TisBest Charity cards you can choose from 250 charities. There are National ones such as the ASPCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, World Vision and Doctors Without Borders. And local ones from a few different large cities like New York and Chicago.Ā These donations are also tax-deductible and do not expire.

Need some Christian Christmas gift ideas, but don’t have a lot of cash to spend? Here are some Christian gifts that will fit pretty much every budget– and will be great for just about anyone on your list! They’re all fabulous and less than $20.

$5 Budget

Head to Ambassador International for Christian books that are up to 70% off. They’re having a $5 sale where for five days only, five books are marked down to– you guessed it– $5! The titles vary from a children’s book to a study on Esther. There’s also a book for history buffs on your list and those who may be looking for a new job. Plus if you’re a fan of Christian Publishing on Facebook you’ll have access to a coupon code that will save you even more off your purchase.

$9.99 Budget

Check out Dayspring.com for some unique Christian Christmas gifts including this “Jesus is the Gift” mug for just $9.99. Plus between now and December 14 you can save an additional 25% with coupon code GIFT25 at checkout.

$11.99 Budget

Here’s a great gift for anyone on your list that owns a DVD player. Right now you can get a copy of Facing the Giant’s, a movie starring Alex Kendrick, for just $11.99 at Christianbook.com. It’s an inspirational movie that young and old will enjoy watching.

$13 Budget

If you’ve got $13 to spend a tough person on your list, why not buy a couple of chickens? Of course, you won’t actually see the chickens, you’ll just be buying them through World Vision to help provide nutrition and income to a family in need.

$14.99 Budget

Here’s a perfect gift for the baby on your shopping list. Check out these cute onesies with phrases like “To you it’s crying, but to Jesus it’s a joyful noise.” They’re just $14.99 from c28.com.

$18.75 Budget

Give affordable and unique art with this pack of five notecards designed with Bible verses. They’re available from Etsy artist Red Letter Words. The cards feature phrases and verses like “She knew she was worth far more than rubies.”

It’s the season of giving! And although that sometimes can mean spending money when you don’t have a lot of extra here is a way to give big without spending a dime. This year Restaurant.com is giving everyone an opportunity to Feed It Forward. They’re giving away up to $30 million in free restaurant gift certificates over 30 days during the holidays. The cool part is– they’re letting you do the giving.

Go ahead and treat your friends, family or neighbors to free food at a nearby restaurant of their choice. You can give the free certificates to 30 different people every day until Christmas. All you have to know is their email address. Simply plug in that information and Feed It Forward will deliver the message that they’ve received a free $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate.

You can either do this through the Feed It Forward website or by using the Facebook app. With the Facebook app you’ll be able to give the gifts right to your Facebook friends. So go ahead and start giving. And who knows– maybe they’ll return the favor!

Cyber Monday proved to be a record day for shoppers searching for coupons, according to an article at USAToday.com. Sites like RetailMeNot.com reported having 1.1 million visitors on Monday. That’s up a whopping 57% from a year ago. Another coupon site, CouponCabin.com had 400,000 visits which was a 65% increase from Cyber Monday 2008. BradsDeals.com welcomed 16,000 visitors per hour, a 174% increase in traffic compared to last year.

There has been an increased demand for printable coupons and coupon codes all year. This summer 44.1 million adults printed coupons from online sources which is a 21% increase compared to 2008, according to market research firm Experian Simmons. The reason for this growth is easily explained– more people want to save money and more people are getting online. Statistics show that one-third of internet users are visiting websites that offer deals.

So which sites are the best to visit for printable coupons and coupon codes? Here are a few to check out:

UltimateCoupons.com

Ebates.com

RetailMeNot.com

CouponCabin.com

CouponChief.com

CouponShack.com

DealRocker.com

BensBargains.net

Giltman.com

BradsDeals.com

Just about every wedding gift I give is accompanied by a copy of Dave Ramsey’s bestseller The Total Money Makeover. The concepts in the book helped my husband and I get started on a great financial path when we were first married and I want other couples to have the chance to experience that same success. But this book would make a great gift for a lot of people on your Christmas list, too. And the best part is the books are now on sale for just $10 a copy in the Dave Ramsey book store. I can think of several family members and friends who could really use the powerful message in this book.

The book talks about Dave Ramsey’s baby steps which start with creating an emergency fund and end with paying off your mortgage. He is adamant about eliminating debt and increasing your savings so that you can one day give like no one else and live like no one else.

While you’re visiting the Dave Ramsey website, take a moment to enter for your chance to win one of the daily prizes Dave and his team are giving away through the month of December. This year Dave wants to give like no one else which is why he’s handing out prizes every day. You can win prizes like $1000 emergency fund or a free pass to Financial Peace University. The prizes are different each day so make sure to check back regularly and enter often!

Many of us like to give extra this time of year– and many charities need it. But how do you know if a charity really is doing good? There are a few online resources available that will help you make sure every dollar you spend is helping the cause you want to support.

GuideStar

GuideStar believes that charities should be completely transparent. That’s why they’re dedicated to researching non-profits and reporting their results. If you want to research a charity, you can access important information here for free and feel good about where your money is going.

Give Well

GiveWell.net is a non-profit charity evaluator that does independent, in depth research with the ultimate goal of making sure your dollars are accomplishing as much good as possible. You can review hundreds of charities that have gone under the watchful eye of Give Well. Very few charities get many stars under the Give Well standards.

Charity Navigator

Charity Navigator calls itself America’s premier independent charity evaluator. The organization has thoroughly checked out the financial health of more than 5,000 of America’s largest charities. You’ll find out how much of each dollar you donate is actually going to the cause– and how much is being spent on the leaders’ salaries.

Charity Ratings Watchdog

Charity Ratings Watchdog believes you should give to a good charity, not just a good cause. They believe not all charities are well managed which can mean that your money isn’t being allocated wisely. Charity Ratings Watchdog gives each charity a letter grade depending on how they’re spending their money.

Whether it’s at the grocery store check-out line or an email in my inbox, people are always asking me how to use coupons. Several months ago I felt like the Lord really wanted me to teach others about this. Even though there are many other (and more talented) couponers teaching classes out there I felt like I could offer a different perspective– using coupons to give more.

Over the past seven months I’ve tracked my charitable giving of food and toiletries and it turns out I’ve bought over $500 worth of stuff while only paying about $20 out of pocket. About 20 people turned out to the class which was held at my church. That was more than I expected since I didn’t advertise except through our church bulletin, Facebook page and my personal blog. Several of the people do not attend my church but told me after that they had been praying for someone to teach them about coupons. One woman told me she had been praying about learning how to use coupons so she could buy more food to help a friend who’s in a bad financial situation.

My presentation was only about 40 minutes long and included the basics of couponing as well as some information and ideas on how to use couponing to increase your giving to local food pantries and shelters. I showed them these verses on giving:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ā€˜It is more blessed to give than to receive.ā€™ (Acts 20:35)

He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor. (Proverbs 22:9)

ā€œIf a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ā€˜Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,ā€™ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?ā€ (James 2:15-16)

There were lots of questions and plenty of interest so I’m excited to see what this group of 20 will be able to accomplish with coupons.

Whether you like it or not, starting early with your Christmas gift planning can save you a lot of money. There are some great (and free!) gift ideas on today’s Free Stuff Friday list. So start thinking about who you’ll need to get gifts for this year because maybe this list has the answer!

Free Photo Book: Get a free 7X9 photo book from Shutterfly from now until November 16. Use coupon code MYBOOK at checkout to take advantage of this offer. It looks like you will still have to pay for shipping.

Free Song Download: Get a free song download from a country music award nominee. Choose between hundreds of hits from performers like Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood. Click here for complete instructions and be sure to use code CMAAWARD.

Free $10 Gift Card: Gather up all that change you have around the house and take it to a Coinstar machine. From now until December 6 if you turn in $40 worth of change they’ll give you an extra $10 gift card to a retailer of your choice. You pay no fees.

Free Portrait at Picture People: Take this printable coupon into Picture People this week for a free 8×10 or 10×13 portrait. You won’t pay a sitting fee and you’ll get 25% off the rest of your purchase. Plus if you bring in a new unwrapped toy you’ll get two free portraits.

Free Cranberries: Live near an Earth Fare? Take in this coupon to get one pound of free organic cranberries. The coupon expires November 17.

Free Aveda Hand and Body Wash: Take this email into your local Aveda store or salon and get a free sample of the Rosemary Mint Hand and Body Wash. It will make a great stocking stuffer!

It’s become an American tradition. The day after overindulging on turkey, stuffing and pie, we get up before the sun to shop like crazy and score incredible deals. It seems that many Black Friday ads have already been leaked. And some stores are simply posting them on their website for shoppers to see. Wondering what kind of deals you can expect to see on the day after Thanksgiving? Here are some Black Friday ads to review:

Lowe’s: Lowe’s has posted their Black Friday ad on their website for everyone to look over. Check out the deals like a portable fire pit for $39 and a shop vac for just $29.

Kohl’s: The Black Friday sales start at 4am at Kohl’s. Their leaked Black Friday ad on BlackFriday.org shows lots of toys at half off and a portable 7″ LCD TV for just $69.99.

Kmart: The leaked Black Friday ad for Kmart posted on BlackFriday.org shows lots of great deals like a GPS system for $84.99 and cashmere hats, gloves and scarves for just $9.99. The Black Friday sales here start at 6am.

Sears: The leaked Sears Black Friday ad found at BlackFriday.com promises hundreds of door buster deals. Some of the deals include jeans for the entire family for $9.99, a 7″ digital frame for $29.99 and Disney Pix digital cameras for $9.99.

Old Navy: Doors open at 3am at Old Navy and according to their leaked Black Friday ad they’re giving away some video games with
qualifying purchases. They’ve also got other great deals like jackets for $15.

Harbor Freight Tools: The After-Thanksgiving ad for Harbor Freight Tools is available on the company’s homepage. Check it out for deals on tools.

Target: While Target ads haven’t been leaked yet, you can sign up to receive notifications for when they are released. When you sign up you’ll be able to preview all of the deals early.

This is the season for giving, for spending time with loved ones, and for celebrating the birth of our Savior. But often it can turn into the season for over-spending, for becoming materialistic and for getting sucked into the rush of holiday tasks. Here are five traps to avoid getting into this holiday season.

Trap #1: The Refund Anticipation Loan

If you’re tight on cash this holiday season you may be tempted to look for money in unusual places. One of those places could be a Refund Anticipation Loan. These are loans based on what you expect to get back from the government after filing your taxes next year. It may seem like a good idea to get the cash around Christmastime when you actually need it, but these loans often come with high fees and plenty of interest. Avoid falling in this trap and steer away from Refund Anticipation Loans.

Trap #2: No Interest for a Year

Lots of stores may be offering credit cards that let you buy your Christmas presents without having to pay interest for a few months or even years. Avoid the “no interest” trap this holiday season because you’ll end up putting yourself in a bad position when it comes time to pay up. And if you don’t pay the balance in full before your special offer ends, you’ll likely be stuck with huge interest fees.

Trap #3: Gifts for Everyone!

You may be tempted to buy anyone and everyone a gift this Christmas. From co-workers to hair stylists, everyone ends up on your gift list. Scale back this year and try to spend less. People will understand if you don’t buy them a gift– they may even be glad because they won’t feel pressure to return the favor.

Trap #4: Paying with Credit

Whether you’ve started saving for Christmas gifts or not, it’s definitely not too late to commit to paying cash for presents this year. Don’t use your credit cards as a crutch to get you through Christmas. If you can’t pay for a present with cash– don’t buy it. No gifts are worth going into debt for.

Trap #5: I Want That

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the commercialism and materialism of Christmas. After all, that’s what corporations spend millions of dollars on each year. Fight that tendency and focus on what the holidays are all about– family, friends and faith. Make this the Christmas that you give more than you’ve ever given in terms of serving and loving others.

Less than one-third of congregations reported a decline in giving for the first half of 2009, according to a recent study done by the Lake Institute of Faith & Giving at Indiana University and the non-profit research firm The Alban Institute. The findings are part of the 2009 Congressional Economic Impact Study and was based on more than 1,500 congregations and their experience with fundraising.

At a recent church service my pastor explained that our giving for this year has increased and membership continues to grow. We all know that the recession has affected most everyone; however, this study found that Americans are continuing to give. More than two-thirds of congregations in the study reported that their fundraising increased or remained the same earlier this year compared to last year.

Almost 37 percent of congregations reported an increase for the first half of 2009, compared to 2008. And another 34 percent reported steady giving. One thing that has helped churches is their creativity, such as giving aid to the homeless and emergency cash assistance to others. The study showed that congregations (or “growth congregations”) with $600,000 to $1 million in revenue, weekly attendance of more than 300, younger attendees and higher income families were more likely to report an increase in fundraising receipts.

Although the news of increased giving is encouraging, still 30 percent of congregations saw a decrease in giving earlier this year – 8.1 percentage points more than reported a decline in 2008. Those churches called “survival congregations”, which have a 10 percent or more drop in finances and attendance, were more likely to report a decline in giving. Other congregations that were likely to report a decrease are those with annual revenue of less than $150,000, weekly attendance of less than 100, older congregants and those with a lower average income.

Not all congregations are alike. Many are struggling to make ends meet, but many more are holding their own and growing, says the study.

What started out as a small idea has grown into a major movement to help others in need. And that need is for shoes. TOMS Shoes uses the model of One for One. When you purchase a pair of shoes, a new pair goes to children in other countries who have no money for shoes. Walking barefoot is a way of life in counties such as Argentina, and these children walk for many miles for things like food and water. Without shoes, they are prone to bad infections on their feet due to cuts and sores.

Although the economy and things such as high unemployment levels are hitting many people, giving back to others is still important. TOMS Shoes is a great example of someone still trying to make a difference. In 2006, Blake Mycoskie was traveling in Argentina and was astounded at the amount of children without shoes on their feet. This year TOMS Shoes is hoping to hand out 300,000 pairs of shoes to those in other countries.

Along with buying a pair of shoes, you can also get involved in other ways. First, they are in need of interns year- round. How about hosting a style your sole party? Start off with a pair of white TOMS Shoes, grab some pens, markers and stencils and host a party where everyone can personalize their shoes. You can also join a TOMS Shoes Campus Club. When you’re on campus, you can set up TOMS Shoes events with a One for One movement at your school.

Shoes start at $44 with women’s, men’s and children’s sizes and geo-metric, tie-dye or glitter designs. You can purchase them online or find them in many large retail stores. It always feels good to give back to others and this is a simple and fun way to do it.

The topic of money is discussed in the Bible many, many times. A website that I frequent is Everyday Christian and they talk about several topics, such as money, relationships, health and Christian living. Not long ago, I wrote a blog about tithing and wanted to explore the area of money and the Bible a bit more.

A writer for Everyday Christian put together a list of five important verses from the Bible that discuss money and he feels every Christian should be familiar with them.

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

God is always faithful and we should trust in Him and not necessarily rely on the wavering stock market or bank accounts. The author of the article says it shouldn’t matter if there is a financial crisis or you get laid off, God will still supply your needs like He promised us He would.

Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

It is important to tithe which I have discussed in the past. My husband and I continue to do so despite the fact that I lost my full-time job and we have other financial woes. Tithing brings blessings, which we have noticed since we began giving our money to the Lord.

1 Timothy 6:10Ā  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

This verse if often misquoted, says Everyday Christian. It’s not the money that is evil, but the love of it. Many who have millions do give it away to charities and other organizations, but then there are those who fight over a few dollars. “It is a matter of the heart that only God can judge,” says the article.

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Everyday Christian provides several other samplings of scripture that can go along with Acts 20:35. Giving sets us free, while hoarding entraps us (James 5:2). Giving changes the lives of others (John 3:16).Ā  Giving brings blessings back to us (Luke 6:38).

Proverbs 22:7Ā  The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

My husband and I are careful not to have too many debts. Right now, we owe on one car, our house and we try to pay off our credit cards each month. Not being chained to debt can really make a difference in your life.

Yesterday was a big day at Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, Michigan. That’s because yesterday was Free House Sunday. The city of Detroit has been hit especially hard by the recession so the authors of a new book “Jesus Loves You This I Know” teamed up with Citadel to bless someone with a free home.

They started pulling the project together back in May and over the past few weeks 113 people filled out an entry form at www.freehouseSunday.com for the chance to receive the free house. The church received the house by someone who had passed away. So with a couple thousand dollars worth of seed money and a lot of volunteer help, the congregation got the house renovated and in great shape for its new owner. Volunteers put in new appliances, heater, cabinets, carpet, tile, fixtures, sinks, bath and more.

In front of a standing-room-only crowd, the church announced the winner, Thereatha Baker. Thereatha’s husband passed away and she could no longer afford her rent. She had no money to move and was falling behind on her bills. The sermon, along with this powerful display of grace and love made a big impact. Out of that packed church yesterday, 30 people committed themselves to the Lord and 55 people said they wanted to join Citadel Church, proving it wasn’t just Thereatha that walked away from the service with a changed life.

This video from Channel 7 Action News in Detroit tells more of the story:

Out of Debt Christian recently received a great question from one of our readers. He asked for advice on the topic of spoiling the child versus inheritance. The BibleĀ  is clear about not spoiling our children; however, that doesn’t apply when it comes to leaving your children with what they need when you are no longer here.

For help with this topic I turned to my church’s Pastor of Financial Planning Joe Sangl. He and his wife had some words of wisdom on the topic and first quoted Proverbs 13:22 which says “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.”

“I believe God wants us to bless the next generation,” they said. “God did not call us to be broke.”

He and his wife, Jenn, put an interesting twist on it saying that the trick is to teach your children how to handle money properly. They discussed their personal life and plan on leaving an inheritance for their daughter and they are teaching her how to be aware of money. “She had a conversation with our friends the other day and was outraged at the prices of smoothies at our church coffee shop. She gets it,” they said.

This summer Joe tackled the issue of Estate Planning on his blog and discussed an article from Money Magazine on the topic. The article tells readers to ask themselves five questions:

Give Now or Give Later? Giving money to your loved ones now may be an option to help avoid higher taxes later.

Equal or Fair? This tackles the issue of how you should split your money among your offspring.

Simple or Complicated? A simple will or living trust are what is discussed under this question.

Want to Give to Charity? A traditional IRA is the best way to donate some of your estate.

When Should You Revisit Your Plan? Things change quickly, so make sure you contact your attorney every three years or so.

I felt it was important to contact a financial advisor when it came to this type of issue. I hope this has helped our readers to understand estate planning a bit better.

Yes, we may be in a recession. Yes, layoffs are happening daily. Yes, money is tight. But that doesn’t mean we should be giving less. In fact, many would argue that now is the time to give even more because there are more people in need. Here are three examples of companies that are giving back and ways that you can help by supporting them.

Welch’s: One Million Glasses. One Click at a Time.

Visit this Welch’s site and simply clicking “Donate Now” will give eight 8-ounce servings of juice to Feeding America, an organization feeding the homeless in America. They’ll donate up to one million servings of real grape juice. Go ahead, click. You can do it one time a day.

Land’s End: The Feel Good Story

For every Feel Good sweater you buy at Land’s End they’ll donate a spool of yarn to One Heart Foundation’s Warming Families, an organization that knits clothing for needy families. With the yarn Land’s End donates, the organization will knit as many as 25,000 hats that will be distributed to families all over the country. Want to do more? Knit some hats of your own using these free patterns found exclusively at Land’s End.

Macy’s: Come Together

Macy’s is asking people to host dinner parties to raise money for the hungry. Ask your guests to donate money and Macy’s will match your donation dollar-for-dollar to provide 10 million meals for Feeding America. You can even download free recipes, invitations and ideas on the Macy’s website to help plan your party.

Organizing a fundraiser can be tough work– especially during a recession. Businesses may not have as much in their budget for donating and people are staying home more rather than going out. I recently sat in on a webinar with information compiled by Claire Thompson over at Wave PR. I’m organizing the upcoming Twestival in my community and the webinar offered some great tips for anyone looking to raise money for a good cause.

Determine your goal- Stephen Covey said, start with the end in mind. A fundraising goal will help you figure out how big your sponsorships should be. Set a goal by talking to the cause youā€™re supporting. Making the goal tangible is huge. For instance, tell people that their $10 donation will build ā€œX number of wellsā€ or ā€œY number of cat beds.ā€

Target your Sponsors- Align the non-profit with the right sponsors. If you’re raising money for an animal shelter, you may want to approach pet food companies. Be as organized as possible so your team isnā€™t soliciting the same companies over and over.

Offer Various Sponsorships- Try having a range of sponsorships that allow the sponsor to buy in at a price that fits their budget. Some sponsors will pay to have a link from your site, others may get a blog post about them on your site. You can have a variety of levels for sponsorships. They can also sponsor different goods and services like the event venue, music, food or drink. Ticket sales would then go to the cause itself.

Look for Revenue Enhancers- Look for ways to make more money beyond ticket sales. Simultaneously hold a silent auction or raffle. Make sure you have any needed permits or licenses and always have an estimated value starting bid.

Try Event Draws- Look for celebrity status to help you out. Ask a local DJ to MC for the night. Giveaway t-shirts or swag bags featuring sponsorship logos or coupons from local businesses. Ask for donations on the night of the event saying, for example, if we raise an extra $50 this person will shave their head. It will spur people on and get them in the mood to raise money for your charity.

Consider Creating an Event Program- A program can include information about the local charity and the organizationā€™s latest news. Itā€™s also a great place to thank those that donated, sponsored and volunteered for your event.

Keep the Flow- Make sure there is a lot going on to keep the event flowing. People will be networking, but itā€™s important to keep the energy level high so that they feel good about the event. Show a video of the event cause or bring something from the charity along to the event. If you’re supporting an animal shelter, bring a box of kittens along to the event. It will remind people why you are all there.