We’d all like to be better people whenever we can. Maybe you already give back to charity or your community, or maybe you would like to but just don’t know how. Whatever your perspective, if you are on a tight budget, it can be difficult to know how you can make a difference without a ton of extra money. We’re going to examine how to give to charity on a budget so you can still make an impact in your community.

Leverage Your Tax Deductions

It’s important to remember that charitable donations are tax-deductible, and you deserve to have them deducted. There is nothing wrong with making sure you get your receipt so you can report your donations on your taxes. This can take a huge load off during tax season and can give you an extra boost of cash when you weren’t expecting it.

Donate Items Instead of Cash

Just because you may not have the liquid assets to donate to your favorite charity, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. Many places will take more than just money, including items such as furniture, appliances, books, toys, games, and home goods. You don’t need much to make your donation worthwhile; you can even hold off your donations until you would normally get rid of those items in the first place. Places such as the Purple Heart Pickup will even grab the items right from your house, so you don’t have to go anywhere.

Utilize Your Time

If you can’t donate cash and you don’t have the excess items to give away, most charities always need volunteers to help out. If you have the extra time available, consider volunteering and giving your time to a better cause. When we’re talking about giving to charity on a budget, you can’t really beat not spending anything but your time.

Cut Out Unnecessary Expenses

If you really want to give cash because you think it will do the most good, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re currently spending your money. Maybe you buy things for a hobby more often than you should. Maybe you have a subscription service that is burning a hole in your pocket even though you don’t use it much. Whatever the case may be, almost everyone has something they can cut out of their budget without even noticing it’s gone. Use that extra money on a charitable donation instead.