Hang onto your wallet, it’s that time of year again. Time to screen your calls and do a deep sort on the mail because everybody and his cousin wants a cut of what isn’t left at the end of your month. Bruce’s cell phone and email must be on the list of everyone’s political campaign. I don’t give out my email and cell number to very many people but the land line (yes, we have one because cell service here is sketchy at best) doesn’t get answered unless I recognize your number or name.
Here’s what I tell anyone who gets through my screening shield. “We only donate locally.” And then comes the spiel about how a portion of this donation goes to local entities, and I hang up. “A portion” doesn’t cut it with me. ALL of your donations to the Backpack Program, Community Table, Food Pantry, or Just Neighbors go to the intended cause. If you contribute to the furnace fund at your church or charity, that’s where the money will be used. I don’t think I’m wrong in wanting to choose where my spare dollars are spent, and heaven knows there are fewer spare dollars for any of us these days.
Mail—I go to the recycle bin every trip to town, to dispose of catalogs from places I never heard of and don’t want to. Any notion of saving the rain forest goes out the window when there’s money to be made. I haven’t needed to buy Christmas cards for years; there are a plethora of freebies in my mailbox. I don’t feel guilty for not donating. Any charity that can afford to buy that many TV ads, send me free cards, notepaper, address labels, T shirts, calendars, or blankets doesn’t need my help.
If I lived in town there would probably be people at my door wanting sponsorship for some project. Most folks are ok with helping the band get to march in a bowl parade, or supporting the Girl Scouts. Bruce goes looking for Girl Scout cookies because he likes them. I prefer homemade, and have a problem with teaching children to promote overpriced products, but I’ll patronize a bake sale or local craft fair. I go looking for the fruit sales for FFA or FCCLA because I believe in the values they teach, and the products are top notch.
It’s too bad that churches, and charities like the Salvation Army, make their pitches at this time of year because, even though they are worthy of our support, with Christmas and taxes looming on the horizon, we’re likely to be chintzy with our donations.
Here’s the bottom line. Learn to recognize when you are being manipulated, and exercise your free will in these matters. Many, if not most, of the charities are worthy of our support, but consider how that money will be spent before making your choices. As for the politicians, again, it’s a matter of personal belief, but until they quit talking smack and get down to business, I’m folding my money over and keeping it in my pocket.
Meet me here next week and meanwhile, do your best. Somebody might like it.