Giving back wisely

With the holidays upon us and tax-season looming, you’re probably considering which charities will top your yearly donation list. 

I have posted before about cashless alternatives to philanthropy. (I love those kitten blankets!) But unrestricted cash donations are also mutually beneficial gifts; cash is desperately needed by nonprofit organizations, because it allows those who run the organization to direct the funds where they are most needed. 

There are some terrific vehicles out there for giving beyond straight donations.  Here are the most popular:

Stocks/securities: You can transfer stocks or securities to the organization.  Thanks to changes to tax laws in 2006, the charity pays ZERO capital gains and you get a tax-receipt for the full-amount of the gift!  

Residual bequests: A residual bequest is another excellent option for those who are living on a fixed income or tight budget. Even if you do not have much cash, you may have assets which have some value, such as your home. Through a residual bequest, (a percentage in your will) you can guarantee that you will look after your loved ones AND make a difference.  For example, you can request that the remaining 10% of funds in your will, after your family has been given their share, be distributed to your favourite charity.  You’re simultaneously alleviating some of the tax burden on your loved ones by reducing or even eliminating the capital gains they will have to pay.

Charitable giving helps you to reduce the tax you pay at the end of the year, but that’s not usually why most people give.  Instead, making a donation is about feeling good about giving back, knowing that you’re making a difference in the world and contributing to a better future.  It’s an investment in a better world. 

Most donors are concerned about administrative and fundraising costs.  And when you’re on a tight budget, with little to spare, you want to make sure that your money is going to the right place. Here are some questions to ask when comparing charities:

1. “Can I see your financial pie?” – ask to see how the funds are distributed but don’t stop there – many charities hide administrative and fundraising costs under misleading categories.

2. “What are all the costs included under each section of this pie?” In particular, “which staff salaries are listed under administration and fundraising and which are not?” At the very least, the Executive Director and staff directly involved in fundraising will be named as a fundraising cost.  Others, like those in communications, may not be. 

3.“What activities does the organization included under fundraising?” Make sure your values align with their spending.

“What is the return on your investment on each of your fundraising expenses (like direct mail and special events) and what portion of your fundraising budget is spent on each of these activities?” – This will show you what portion of your funds are spent on heavy income generating activities and what portion are spent on less fruitful ones.  This will help you identify their efficiency.  

Note: A good charity should not have admin/fundraising costs higher than around 35%.  

These questions are not to intimidate you or to suggest that most charities are mismanaged, rather it is to empower you to seek out and reach out to those nonprofits you really trust.  By investing in a charity you truly believe in, you will end up with more than a tax-receipt – you will have faith that your money is truly making a difference.

The best gifts I’ve ever received

The best Christmas gifts I’ve ever received didn’t come from a store.  They were hand-crafted by someone I love.  Today I thought I would share  five of my favourites.

1. An advent calender made by my Aunt Janneke.  I’m not even sure if my aunt knows how much my sister and I loved this gift. It was a giant calender made entirely out of felt that we hung on our basement door.  Each morning, my sister and I would get up and take turns choosing a felt piece to hang up.  She had made all kinds of holiday characters and symbols out of felt – a star, a Christmas tree, a present, and of course the nativity figures.  We always saved the baby Jesus for Christmas morning, and the two of us would pick it up together (literally, we each needed at least a couple fingers on that Jesus cut-out) and hung it on the calender before excitedly opening the door to see if Santa had come.

2. A commemorative collage. Although this was a birthday gift, it is worth mentioning here: For my 25th birthday, my sister asked friends and family to submit a short email about why I am special.  Friends wrote poems, memories and thoughts about their relationship to me.  My sister printed out the emails and pasted them on a giant piece of bristol board.  Needless to say, there were some tears flowing that day!

3. Coupons from my Dad.  When we were kids, every year there would be a business envelope nestled in the tree’s branches, and inside, we would find a letter written on my Dad’s company’s letterhead.  The letter was really a “coupon” for time alone with Dad.  He gave us several options for activities we could do – visit the Art Gallery, the Children’s Museum, go ice skating, go out for breakfast, and so on.  Like many dads, ours was very busy.  He ran his own business and our time with him was very special.  Also, because my sister and I are twins, we were used to sharing everything, including time with our parents.  One-on-one time was a deeply treasured gift.

4. A homemade recipe book. One year, my mom made a giant recipe book. It was a giant compilation of recipes from the extended family and all of her friends, as well as her own favourite stash.  She photocopied the recipies, organized them, and put them in a great big binder.  That binder is my go-to place for recipes of any kind!  It contains recipes that were shared by parents when I was in kindergarten and the vegan recipes my mom prepared when I swore off all animal products while in highschool. It’s equal parts practical and sentimental.

5. A Grandmother’s craft. My Nana also wrote out recipe books for the grandchildren one year.  But this one is much different; it’s in my Nana’s handwriting and it includes old-fashioned recipes.  I don’t usually pull it out when I’m making dinner but you bet it’s a treasure that I will cling to for my entire life.

What was your favourite homemade gift to receive?

Coupons from Canadian Living

I have mentioned many times that Canadian Living magazines are a good source of coupons.  Here is a list of what can be found in the December and January issues, in case you want to pick one up:

DECEMBER

Kotex – 75¢ off

Naturegg Omega 3 eggs – 50¢ – Note that Naturegg often has great coupons hiding under the carton lid.  Before purchasing eggs, I take a peek under the lid to see what (if any) coupons are there.  Then, if the coupons are for products I regularly buy, I do some quick math to see if the higher cost of the omega 3 eggs is outweighed by the savings in the coupons.

Naturegg egg whites – 75¢

Lactantia unsalted butter – 75¢

Lactantia omega 3 margarine – 75¢

Mazola oil or cooking spray – 75¢

Black Diamond Sargento shredded cheese – 75¢

Duncan Hines – 50¢

Reynolds parchment paper, wax paper or baking cups – 50¢

Revlon revitalift – $3

Creama, coffee creamer – 75¢

JANUARY

Dole salad – 75¢

Carr’s crackers – 40¢

Rosenborg cheese – 50¢

Sunset tomatoes – 50¢

Tenderflake – $1 off two

Janes chicken – $1

Sharwood’s Indian sauces – $1

McVities digestive biscuits – 50¢

Lynch honey mustard sauce – 50¢

Hidden Valley ranch salad dressing – $1

Knorr classic or pasta sauce – 50¢ off two

Black Diamond almonds – $1

Electrsol, finish, powerball tabs or finish gelpacs – $1

Jet Dry – $1

Reynolds slow cooker liners – $1

Lynch Hot apple cider – 50¢

Lactantia omega 3 margarine – 75¢

Gay Lea spreadables butter $1

Black Diamond Sargento shredded cheese – 75¢

Scrub Free bathroom cleaner – 75¢

Dole squish ‘ems – 75¢

Maple Lodge roasts deli meats – 75¢

You can receive a calendar which includes the above coupons from Recipes Plus, for $3 plus PST/GST by mailing your request to: Recipes Plus, 3266 Yonge Street, P.O. Box 1206, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3P6. (But I figure it makes more sense just to by the magazine for the extra buck.)

Coupons for your doggie!

If you sign up for PetSmart “PetPerks,” you will receive a $5 coupon, and an e-newsletter including special discounts. Recently, I received an email with over $40 worth of savings in coupons. The coupons are for dog grooming, shedding treatments, training, pet hotel services, doggie day camp, and photography. To receive PetPerks, sign up at the register when you make you next purchase.

"What about coupons for cats?"

Coupon tips

The other day I received this question from Kate, who says she has been having trouble using coupons.  Kate writes:

[The coupons] always seem to be a) for products or brands I don’t use (processed junk in particular) and/or b) force me to trek all over town to redeem them (maybe it’s a downtown thing, but I tend to get the ‘valid except at x, y, and z stores’ ones, and anything within a 20 min drive of me is x, y, or z). I HAVE found flyer hunting useful though. We live near both a Loeb and Loblaws, so flyers help decide which one gets our business that week. 

Kate, you’re right – coupons for processed junk food abound.  Scrap ‘em, share ‘em, or save ‘em until a deal comes around that is so lucrative it makes the product free, or gives you overage.  But rest assured, there are plenty of opportunities to find coupons for good, healthy food.  I have collected countless coupons for milk, cheese, healthy cereals, fish, whole wheat bread, real fruit juice, whole wheat crackers, whole wheat pasta, unsweetened apple sauce, yogurt, baking supplies like flour, oats, salt, oil and pie crusts, and other necessities like toilet paper, brand name feminine products, personal care items, detergents, pet food and beauty products (and the list goes on!) 

Coupons from Canadian Living and Homemakers magazines and coupons from product manufacturers’ websites are the best for healthy foods. Another great source is the products themselves (look inside cereal boxes and egg cartons for examples).  Coupons from these sources are almost never restricted to just one set of stores. When you go shopping, keep your eyes peeled for good coupons – even if they are restricted to a store (I find they rarely are) at least it will be a store you already shop at! Just keep your eyes out at every possible source and eventually you’ll develop a good stash!

Here are some tips for using your coupons.

1. Use a coupon box – learn how to make a coupon box here.

2. When you go through the flyers and make your list, pull out the coupons you want to use and put them to the front of your coupon box – that will save you some time in the store.

3. When you lay your groceries on the belt, match the coupon with the product.  It’s best to lay the coupon on the product – don’t put it on the belt or it might get stuck! 

4. I enjoy shopping on weekday evenings, because it’s far less busy.  This means I worry less about holding people up when I’m using a ton of coupons – and I can leisurely stroll through the store, comparing prices. Trying to get the best deal and use coupons when the store is jammed to the rafters with angry bargain hunters is a recipe for disaster. 

Good luck – and let me know if there is anything I can do to help!

For more coupon websites, go to smartcanucks.ca, save.ca or visit Red Flag Deals.

A fun freebie for North York residents

Register with icoke.ca - even if you are not a fan of the beverage – to enjoy fun freebies and perks.  I just got an email with a coupon for a free small popcorn and pop at the December 5th Grand Opening of SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas in North York! The only catch is you need to be one of the first 100 people to arrive at the theatre between 5pm an 10pm. Valid at the SilverCity Cinemas at Sheppard Avenue East and the 404 in North York’s Fairview Mall.  Leave a comment if you would like a copy of the coupon and I will forward it to you!

A message from Gail Vaz-Oxlade!

Many of my readers are fans of the popular show, Till Debt Do Us Part, hosted by Gail Vaz-Oxlade.  Counting myself among her biggest fans, I was amazed when Gail responded to a recent comment I made on her blog.  (You can read the background to this story here). In response to my disappointment yet optimism over my recent mini-financial crisis, Gail wrote the following:

SQ: I am so sorry to hear about what has happened to you and your honey. Whenever the caca hits the fan like that it takes a person’s breath away. I doesn’t matter how well prepared you are, it feels like the rug has been pulled out and you’re at a loss as to what to do next. Good for you for having prepared for the worst. Just remember to breathe, to smile at each other a lot, to hug and kiss and tickle and hug some more. You have a wonderful life in front of you, and this setback will teach you what stern stuff you’re made of. Kisses, g

I was most impressed by Gail’s thoughtfulness to write me this kind note.  It certainly cheered me up to get such a personal and kind-hearted from a sought-after woman like Gail.

I also am so moved by the kindness shown by my readers.  Thank you with a full heart for all your warm thoughts.  They mean the world to me!

Free & cheap entertainment – Part One

Believe it or not, entertainment can be free, and still, well, entertaining.

Here is a list of some free opportunities for fun in the city of Toronto.  If you’re not in Toronto, stay tuned, because I’ll have plenty of entertainment ideas that are not limited to location.  However, I do encourage those of you who do not live in the GTA to use these as ideas.  Look into your museums and galleries for local deals.  And be sure to leave a comment with your favourite idea for local entertainment!

Take advantage of the free or cheap entertainment your city has to offer – and don’t assume music, theatre and art is off limits – just seek out the best times to go. 

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

If you’re between 15 and 29 years of age, you can sign up to buy tickets to the TSO Soundcheck for only $12! The best part is, you are free to take a guest of any age.  That means you can go with your son or daughter, or anyone else who falls into that age category!

Art Gallery of Ontario

The AGO is free on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:30pm.  They also offer free general admission for Ontario high school students, aged 13–18, with valid school ID Tuesday to Friday, 3:30–5:30. Students and youth under the age of 18 are also offered a discount – $10 for admission.

Roy Thomson Hall

Free noon concerts in December, January and April.  On Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 12pm, enjoy the Toronto Mass Choir: A Gospel Christmas for free!  

Royal Ontario Museum

The ROM offers some great deals!  It’s free every Wednesday from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm (excluding admission to the specially ticketed exhibitions). Admission is half price on Fridays from 4:30 to 9:30. And it is free for university students on Tuesdays!

Bata Shoe Museum

The Bata Shoe Museum offers Pay-What-You-Can Thursdays from 5pm to 8pm and student discounts for $6.

Nathan Philips Square Cavalcade of Lights

Enjoy a free concert, fireworks and ice skate on December 6, 13, and 20 from 7pm – 10pm!  On December 6th Top Three Tour will be performing, followed by Dragonette on the 13th and Serena Ryder on the 20th. Then have some fun on the skating rink while listening to popular Toronto DJ’s.

Saver Queen’s Top Pick:

Improv Classes at the Second City

Now offering a $5 drop-in class on Monday evenings (6pm – 8:30pm).  This is an amazing deal – you get a 2.5 hour class with an instructor (a full course costs $255+tax). 

This selection is the tip of the iceberg – I will be following up with many more ideas and deals soon!  

What is your favourite idea for free or cheap entertainment? (Don’t limit yourself by location – share a tip for anywhere in the world!)

Quiznos coupons

I just received a coupon in my inbox for free chips and a drink at Quiznos when you buy a regular sub.  Sign up to receive their online newsletter if you are interested in receiving free coupons. Or, leave a comment below and I will send it to you – I can email the coupon to 5 friends! 

A week of coupons & freebies

I’ve been so busy that I haven’t even updated you with some great deals and freebies I discovered last week. First, let me begin with my favourite grocery deals I scored.

This week's best deals

As Kate mentioned on a previous post, the Europe’s Best Frozen Veggies were on sale for $1.99 and with plenty of Europe’s Best coupons out there, the priced was reduced to just 99¢ each.  Luckily, this sale, which can be found at Loblaws, is recurring this week!

The Robin Hood Flour was on sale for only $3.49, but with a 75¢ off coupon (came with my free Homemakers magazine) it was only $2.74.

The Maestro Extra virgin Olive Oil was on sale for $5.89 – and this sale came just in time, as we had just run out.

The Knorr soups were on sale for $1.99 and came with a $2 coupon when you buy two, so they were only 99¢ each.  This special is still on this week at Loblaws and Valu Mart.

The Royale toilet paper was purchased from IGA at $2.99 for a pack of 16. With a $1 coupon, it came to $1.99 – or just over 12¢ a roll.  The equivalent sale is on now at No Frills this week – 40 rolls for $5.97. Use a coupon (Royale coupons are plentiful, at save.ca, for instance) and pay $4.97, or again, just over 12¢ a roll.

I will be adding the flour and toilet paper to my Food Bank stash for the Saver Queen Shopping Challenge. I am adding to my personal stash every time I get a great deal and will be delivering to the Fire hall this December.

Butternut loves exploring the cloth bags when I unpack the groceries!

In all, I used $6.55 in coupons – a little bit less than normal, however I also got extra PC points with points coupons and from bringing cloth bags.  Make sure to remind the cashier to give you your PC points with every green bin and cloth bag you use.  I used two bins and one bag. 

I also received some coupons with my PC bill.  If you spend $75, you will get a bonus of 5000 points; 10,000 points come with $150 purchase and 20,000 points with a $200 purchase.  Don’t forget to check your bills for coupons like these!

Other freebies this week:

My partner and I went to Marks Work Warehouse to use my two free $10 gift cards that came with the flyer.  (As earlier referred to here.) The minimum purchase was $10 so the products were free (minus taxes). I got a stainless steel water bottle (stainless steel is apparently the safest kind of water bottle) and another travel mug (a certain someone keeps forgetting his at work.) The best thing about getting these purchases for free is that they are money savers!  Water bottles and coffee mugs are great investments to make so that you can avoid frequenting the coffee shops.

Did anyone else use their free gift cards?

They were free! And a great investment to boot.

Finally, I also enjoyed receiving a few more freebies.  I used my free coffee card at the Second Cup (also mentioned here) and found Head & Shoulders shampoo and conditioner samples in my mail box. Good for a stocking stuffer or a travel kit.

What great deals, sales, or freebies did you enjoy in the last week?