What to do with too much money?

[cronewitch]

I feel like I have more money than I want to spend. I have already helped family as much as they can benefit from without becoming dependent except one student.

I am thinking of shopping as a hobby but I don't want more stuff. I don't really want to help the poor because they should help themselves and I don't want to just give away money. So I am thinking of shopping for foster children. My niece posted a site where they find them beds and things like Halloween Costumes and Christmas gifts and clothing. Foster parents get 400-550 a month here to support these kids but the kids often arrive with very little or are placed with family who doesn't have a spare bed. The charity my niece posted is in the next county but I could go there. I like bargain hunting so I could shop for good deals and stock up. They seem to mostly help the little ones so I am thinking of mostly helping young teens especially overweight girls. Some quilting group makes pillow cases for the kids to carry clothing home but the kids can pick what they want from racks. I can't be a foster parent because I don't know much about kids and too old and don't want to spend the time doing it. Shopping seems much better use of my time and money. I can go Christmas shopping and buy whatever looks like a bargain.

[movingforward]

I really hope I can say that one day but some how I doubt it... if I were in your position I would probably take a month long vacation in Europe or Australia. 

[schildi]

Crone, I think we should talk. What is the best way to contact you?

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2014 12:33:20 GMT -5 cronewitch said:

I feel like I have more money than I want to spend. I have already helped family as much as they can benefit from without becoming dependent except one student.

I am thinking of shopping as a hobby but I don't want more stuff. I don't really want to help the poor because they should help themselves and I don't want to just give away money. So I am thinking of shopping for foster children. My niece posted a site where they find them beds and things like Halloween Costumes and Christmas gifts and clothing. Foster parents get 400-550 a month here to support these kids but the kids often arrive with very little or are placed with family who doesn't have a spare bed. The charity my niece posted is in the next county but I could go there. I like bargain hunting so I could shop for good deals and stock up. They seem to mostly help the little ones so I am thinking of mostly helping young teens especially overweight girls. Some quilting group makes pillow cases for the kids to carry clothing home but the kids can pick what they want from racks. I can't be a foster parent because I don't know much about kids and too old and don't want to spend the time doing it. Shopping seems much better use of my time and money. I can go Christmas shopping and buy whatever looks like a bargain.

any poor?  what about food banks?  homeless shelters? battered women's shelters?  animal rescues?  donations to charities for disease research?  make-a-wish?  st. judes? ronald mcdonald house? 

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2014 12:38:51 GMT -5 movingforward said:

I really hope I can say that one day but some how I doubt it... if I were in your position I would probably take a month long vacation in Europe or Australia. 

I would travel for awhile and enjoy the freedom of no job or dependents before taking in foster kids.

[Ryan]

Didn't you just retire?  I wouldn't go spending money willey-nilley just yet.  Besides, it's probably a better use of resources to gather up used stuff and deliver it to this charity rather than go out and bargain shop for stuff.  Most people have tons of quality stuff in their house that they'd be happy to give away.

[shanendoah]

cronewitch - If I remember, you're in the Seattle area. Check out Treehouse .

In addition to have a warehouse where we can "shop" for the kids, they sponsor a program called "little wishes" where they pay the fees for foster kids to do sports or go to camp in the summer. First year we had Pop Tart, they paid for her summer gymnastics camp. Mini Wheat wants to play flag football this spring, and Treehouse will pay any fees, including for his uniform for that. Social workers have also suggested we check with them about helping pay for a family Y membership (in order to have a place the kids can run and play during the rainy season).

In addition, one of the services they have that we haven't needed to use (because C is a highly educated SAHP) is academic support, in order to help foster kids graduate high school. (Current statistic is that less than 50% of foster kids graduate.)

Obviously I'm biased, since I am a beneficiary of this program, but it is one of the most helpful programs we have. (I have a welcome packet in my email, if you wanted to PM me your email address, I would happily forward it so you could see what we see.)

[alabamagal]

I think that sounds like an awesome idea!

[Cookies Galore]

#firstworldproblems

[shanendoah]

Another option to help kids in state care, is the new Emergency Sanctuary.

Again, for complete disclosure, this is being run by our adoption agency, so there might be a bias on my part.

[Cookies Galore]

Get stuff for foster kids, get food and other supplies for animal shelters, make a donation to Doctors without Borders, help the poor (it's not so bad to be charitable to your fellow man), live a little, etc.

I like One Simple Wish. You can grant wishes of foster kids, a lot of these wishes are for relatively benign things.

[cronewitch]

Nov 4, 2014 12:41:37 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Nov 4, 2014 12:38:51 GMT -5 movingforward said:

I really hope I can say that one day but some how I doubt it... if I were in your position I would probably take a month long vacation in Europe or Australia. 

I would travel for awhile and enjoy the freedom of no job or dependents before taking in foster kids.

I am not taking in kids but I don't want to travel. Right now I am remodeling my house. But I think shopping is more fun. I don't think Foster teens should have to have used clothing, it would be hard enough for a teen girl to change homes.

I don't want to work with the poor or feed them. I just think they should help themselves and all the churches and missions are feeding them and doing shelters. The guy doing my chores is homeless so I have been thinking of helping but not women and children because they have enough shelters. Single men don't get much help unless they have children but I keep thinking they need to figure it out. My homeless guy was living under the overpass after time was up at the shelter but never saved any money when I pay him a lot of money. Now he moved in with a woman he was working for too. He only wants to work 7 hours a day 4 days a week and spend a fortune on food. He is 37 and I know someday he won't be able to work but he will have nothing saved, you can't save people like that. He says 1% of the people have 80% of the money in the world and in this country 1% have half the money so it isn't people's fault they are poor, so he isn't even trying to help himself.

[mollyanna58]

I think shopping for foster kids is a great idea. 

[Cookies Galore]

Damn those women and children and all their fancy shelters!

[Deleted]

The commitment to foster care is big, but organizations like Big Sisters, or Foster Grandparents let you volunteer to work with kids, take them fun places, on an occasional basis. Or relief foster care.

I think some kid might like to spend a Saturday fishing with crone...

Are you finding it hard to fill time and purpose since retiring? 

[cronewitch]

Nov 4, 2014 12:51:07 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

Another option to help kids in state care, is the new Emergency Sanctuary.

Again, for complete disclosure, this is being run by our adoption agency, so there might be a bias on my part.

This sort of thing was what I was looking for. I think I want to use Treehouse it seems perfect for me and the Emergency Sanctuary is down town. Wishing Well was what I was looking at in Pierce county.

[cronewitch]

Nov 4, 2014 13:10:14 GMT -5 oped said:

The commitment to foster care is big, but organizations like Big Sisters, or Foster Grandparents let you volunteer to work with kids, take them fun places, on an occasional basis. Or relief foster care.

I think some kid might like to spend a Saturday fishing with crone...

Are you finding it hard to fill time and purpose since retiring? 

Somewhat but I am not used to children since about 40 years ago when I would take my niece and nephew for weekends. I don't know what to do with them like how to install a carseat or use disposable diapers. The only time I took great nephew and great niece their mother and grandfather came too.

I was going to try Big Sisters about 40 years ago but they were downtown and required classes at night and acted like you wanted to abuse kids so I gave up that idea. I think I am just not good with children so am better off staying away from hand on work with them.

[dannylion]

Do you like dogs? You could volunteer to be a puppy raiser for a dog that's being trained as a service dog.  There are dogs being raised and trained to assist blind people or people with disabilities, and also service dogs that will assist wounded or disabled servicemen and -women. 

I'm seriously considering doing that once I get my home renovations out of the way. Right now I'm just supporting with money a couple of organizations that breed and train service dogs for wounded warriors, but  I'd love to be a puppy raiser. Though I know it would be sad when they are trained and ready to go to their warrior, it would also be really rewarding.  The puppy raiser just lives his or her life as usual but takes the dog everywhere to get it used to different environments and situations.  In the end, you've had a great dog in your life for a couple of years and a disabled person or wounded vet gets a new lease on life. 

[alabamagal]

I didn't realize making donations to a specific charity would result in so many negative and snarky comments.

Yes there are so many needs out there, but picking a specific area where you can make an impact should be a good thing.  

[The Captain]

Nov 4, 2014 12:44:24 GMT -5 shanendoah said:

cronewitch - If I remember, you're in the Seattle area. Check out Treehouse .

In addition to have a warehouse where we can "shop" for the kids, they sponsor a program called "little wishes" where they pay the fees for foster kids to do sports or go to camp in the summer. First year we had Pop Tart, they paid for her summer gymnastics camp. Mini Wheat wants to play flag football this spring, and Treehouse will pay any fees, including for his uniform for that. Social workers have also suggested we check with them about helping pay for a family Y membership (in order to have a place the kids can run and play during the rainy season).

In addition, one of the services they have that we haven't needed to use (because C is a highly educated SAHP) is academic support, in order to help foster kids graduate high school. (Current statistic is that less than 50% of foster kids graduate.)

Obviously I'm biased, since I am a beneficiary of this program, but it is one of the most helpful programs we have. (I have a welcome packet in my email, if you wanted to PM me your email address, I would happily forward it so you could see what we see.)

Not to hijack this thread but DAMN!!! are you serious?!?  I can't wrap my head around that...

[Wisconsin Beth]

crone, I will happily PM you my address and you can buy and ship me 2-4 bat houses.  I need them for next summer for our land up north.  We've got a scummy pond that is likely a HUGE breeding ground for mosquitoes. 

As for taking kids fishing - they'd be out of diapers I'm guessing.  But you could probably specify that you're only taking kids 10 and up or something, IF it's something you want to do. 

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2014 13:38:41 GMT -5 alabamagal said:

I didn't realize making donations to a specific charity would result in so many negative and snarky comments.

Yes there are so many needs out there, but picking a specific area where you can make an impact should be a good thing.  

did I miss something?  I didn't see any snarky comments....off to reread

[HoneyBBQ]

I like to help those who can't help themselves, too.

Usually this boils down (in my mind) to kids and dogs (animals).

Seattle has one of the few no-kill shelters in such a large urban town, I'm sure they could benefit either from cash, or purchases of dog food, blankets, collars, leashes, and toys.

[kittensaver]

"I don't really want to help the poor because they should help themselves and I don't want to just give away money. "

======================

"The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed on the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied, but written off as trash." ~ John Berger

<<<<< yep, definitely a First World problem. Flame away >>>>>

[moon/Laura]

I have to be honest. I find it to be pretty selfish that you don't want to "help the poor". Should they help themselves? Absolutely. But you seem to be assuming that none of them are even trying! And while I'm sure that there are plenty who are just plain lazy, that's not true for all, and it's rather closed-minded to reject everyone out of hand. I'm not saying that what you're thinking about isn't worthy, but to refuse to help one particular group?

Plus, some would undoubtedly LOVE to do for themselves, but can't for whatever reason. Physical/mental disability, for instance. I bet there are a lot of them in the system who have no family to help, or they've been abandoned. Social workers may not be helping, etc.

Just my .02.

[mollyanna58]

Nov 4, 2014 14:22:26 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I have to be honest. I find it to be pretty selfish that you don't want to "help the poor". Should they help themselves? Absolutely. But you seem to be assuming that none of them are even trying! And while I'm sure that there are plenty who are just plain lazy, that's not true for all, and it's rather closed-minded to reject everyone out of hand. I'm not saying that what you're thinking about isn't worthy, but to refuse to help one particular group?

Plus, some would undoubtedly LOVE to do for themselves, but can't for whatever reason. Physical/mental disability, for instance. I bet there are a lot of them in the system who have no family to help, or they've been abandoned. Social workers may not be helping, etc.

Just my .02.

It's very difficult for an individual donor to sort out who is looking for a hand up and who is just  looking for a handout.   Foster children all need a hand up. 

[bobosensei]

crone- am I confusing you or do you have the niece with down's syndrome?  If you do, I would live a comfortable retirement and earmark anything after you pass to go to a trust for her.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2014 14:30:31 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Nov 4, 2014 14:22:26 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I have to be honest. I find it to be pretty selfish that you don't want to "help the poor". Should they help themselves? Absolutely. But you seem to be assuming that none of them are even trying! And while I'm sure that there are plenty who are just plain lazy, that's not true for all, and it's rather closed-minded to reject everyone out of hand. I'm not saying that what you're thinking about isn't worthy, but to refuse to help one particular group?

Plus, some would undoubtedly LOVE to do for themselves, but can't for whatever reason. Physical/mental disability, for instance. I bet there are a lot of them in the system who have no family to help, or they've been abandoned. Social workers may not be helping, etc.

Just my .02.

It's very difficult for an individual donor to sort out who is looking for a hand up and who is just  looking for a handout.   Foster children all need a hand up. 

and that is why donating to organizations that help those looking for a hand up is the way to go.

[dannylion]

Nov 4, 2014 14:22:26 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I have to be honest. I find it to be pretty selfish that you don't want to "help the poor". Should they help themselves? Absolutely. But you seem to be assuming that none of them are even trying! And while I'm sure that there are plenty who are just plain lazy, that's not true for all, and it's rather closed-minded to reject everyone out of hand. I'm not saying that what you're thinking about isn't worthy, but to refuse to help one particular group?

Plus, some would undoubtedly LOVE to do for themselves, but can't for whatever reason. Physical/mental disability, for instance. I bet there are a lot of them in the system who have no family to help, or they've been abandoned. Social workers may not be helping, etc.

Just my .02.

It's her money. She gets to decide what to do with it.  Anyone who feels differently from her is still free to support whatever causes they wish.  Their choices are not limited by anyone else's choice.  They can spend their money as they choose. They just don't get to tell other people how to spend their money.

[moon/Laura]

Nov 4, 2014 14:30:31 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Nov 4, 2014 14:22:26 GMT -5 moon/Laura said:

I have to be honest. I find it to be pretty selfish that you don't want to "help the poor". Should they help themselves? Absolutely. But you seem to be assuming that none of them are even trying! And while I'm sure that there are plenty who are just plain lazy, that's not true for all, and it's rather closed-minded to reject everyone out of hand. I'm not saying that what you're thinking about isn't worthy, but to refuse to help one particular group?

Plus, some would undoubtedly LOVE to do for themselves, but can't for whatever reason. Physical/mental disability, for instance. I bet there are a lot of them in the system who have no family to help, or they've been abandoned. Social workers may not be helping, etc.

Just my .02.

It's very difficult for an individual donor to sort out who is looking for a hand up and who is just  looking for a handout.   Foster children all need a hand up. 

I understand that. My problem is with the assumption that all poor people are able to help themselves, and therefore don't deserve anything.