5 easy ways to donate money to charity if you’re on a low income

Doing your bit for the community can give you a sense of pride and achievement. However, if you are in a low paying job, it can be hard to know whether what you can afford to donate will make a difference. Here are 5 easy ways to make and donate money to charity if you’re on a low income.

Getting help

Getting as much help as you can from others can determine how much money you can raise for a charity. Getting help with a fundraiser from your friends and family as well as local businesses in your area can be a great way to spread the word and get the ball rolling in terms of making money for a charity.

If the charity is close to your heart, you can share your own experiences and aims for what you are trying to achieve so others can relate to what you are setting out to do. The more awareness you create, the more you can help those in need.

Selling clothes

If you are feeling it is time for a change and you are looking to get rid of any unwanted clothes, it could be worth sifting through all your garments, finding items that are of value and then selling them online. There are many online platforms that you can take advantage of to sell your clothes such as eBay. With many people looking for a bargain, you are likely to be able to get rid of any unwanted clothes and make a little bit of cash in return.

The cash you do make can then go on to a charity of your choice. However, selling clothes online can be time consuming, especially if you have dozens upon dozens of items to list, although try and remember that you are doing it for a good cause. Also, if you list that you are selling the clothes for charity purposes, you may get higher bids from customers.

Shopping online

There are many online retailers that give you the option of donating to a charity when processing a transaction. You will be asked whether you would like to donate before you go through with your purchase. If you are known to do a lot of online shopping, giving an extra £1 here and there to a charity can make a huge difference. Make sure you look at which charities are listed before donating. If you have a specific charity in mind, you will want to ensure you are giving your money to the right place.

Gift aid

Another way to help raise money for charity is by using gift aid when purchasing items online. Ticking the option to pay via Gift Aid allows the charity you are donating to to get back any tax from HM Revenue & Customs resulting in your donation being increased by over 25%. The only things your charity will need from you is your name, address as well as a declaration to say that you are a UK taxpayer. This can be done verbally so you are able to confirm over the phone.

As Gift Aid can receive 25% or more in addition to what you have donated, this means that if you were to donate £10, the charity of your choice will receive £12.50. There are a variety of online giving sites that you can choose from which include Gift Aid including Wonderful.org. Make sure that you research thoroughly into each of the giving sites, so you can make the right choice for you. Each site will offer different services, so you want to be certain that you are giving to the charity of your choice.

Raising money

If you are a confident individual and have a bit of spare time, getting out and about and mixing with the community can be a great way in raising money for a charity of your choice. Organising events with local businesses is a good idea, and they are usually more than happy to help. Putting up flyers and leaflets in shop windows can help promote your event and ensure it becomes a success. If you are hosting an event, make sure that you plan as early as possible, so you can ensure your day goes accordingly to plan and no problems occur.

If you’re looking to create a smaller event, a cake sale or car boot sale can be fantastic for getting more money for your charity. These events will allow you to kill two birds with one stone, as you will be raising money for your charity as well as getting rid of some old stuff. You could even go as far as to use a site like ScrapCarNetwork which allows you to gain money from scrapping your car. This will often give you a substantial starting amount for your charity.

With so many different roads that you can go down, you are bound to find a way to donate money to charity, regardless of your income. No matter how much you can afford to donate, you will be making a significant difference in someone else’s life. Helping others who are less fortunate than you can be incredibly rewarding and give you a sense of pride.