Anyone interested in a Money Giving testimonial?

13 years ago

Yesterday I was preparing income tax returns for low income persons, as a volunteer trained by the Canada Revenue Agency, at our church.

One client was a widower in his mid 80s owning a home in an upper level village, and lacking a private pension, had Canada Pension and Old Age Security, plus some other income for $22,000. total.

I wondered whether it wasn't rather difficult to get by on such a low income, but he said that he could manage it without difficulty.

He had a number of receipts for gifts to charitable causes: ... totalling over $2,400!

I shook his hand and thanked him for his generosity.

I've altered some of the details, in the interests of safeguarding his anonymity.

Would that many more in our society were so considerate of the needs of others.

ole joyful

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

peanutmom
13 years ago
It is a wonderful blessing to see that some people are willing to give even when they don't have a lot themselves. It is great that the widower is able to take care of his expenses with such a small income. He obviously has taken the time in his life to take care of what is important.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
13 years ago
I know someone who tithes and says that ever since she started she has never lacked for what she needs; she tends to live frugally but doesn't skimp or scrimp.
Related Discussions
Do you give money to people on the street?
Q
Comments (34)
No because of the following reasons, as posted by an organization that does community outreach for the homeless in Maryland: Q: Should I give to panhandlers? A: Our experience at Bethesda Cares is that panhandling is not the answer and here are some reasons why: panhandling doesn't provide benefits like insurance, it is not steady or reliable income, in creates a dependence on others, and is a cycle that is hard to break even if someone doesn't intend to do it very long. Panhandling often feeds an addiction, be it gambling, alcohol, or drugs. Giving change to panhandlers does not solve the problems of the person. If you want to give to the individual consider buying food or coffee. Bethesda Cares has a card that lists our services that can be given out to those on the street instead of change.
...See More
OT but need creative juices - giving money in a fun way
Q
Comments (18)
I've used the Money Maze/Bilz Box several times (I may not have kids of my own but I've often had quite a few around with their sticky little hands out ;-)) and it always goes over well - meaning the recipient swears a lot at me while they try to solve the puzzle. *evil grin* If one doesn't take a hammer to it ;-) and hangs onto the outside box, it recloses nicely so it can be reused for someone else. Only six boxes, Mareda? ;-) Someone dear to me once did that with over twenty boxes, starting with a washing machine box and ending with a tiny box with a pair of diamond earrings (which were promptly stolen from my dorm room - people can really suck). You can keep the momentum rolling for a youngster, who might get discouraged, by taping a dollar bill to one of the inside boxes every so often. One year when DH and I were especially flush we gave my little brother - high schooler at the time - cash folded up very tiny and stuck into a walnut shell (which I admit I bought from Michaels, not being successful in getting a walnut to open nicely myself) which I painted gold and hung from a ribbon. I think I put something like "for my favorite nut" on the tag? Mom said he looked rather crestfallen thinking that stupid little walnut was his present - I think the painted walnut shell was an "in" craft that year - but she was in on it and told him to break it open. He just about croaked. Someone in the household has to be in on the joke, or perhaps in another little box you could wrap up a dollar-store nutcracker as a hint. I've use cash as a bookmark in a favorite book - I once bought a book in a used bookstore with a $50 bill stuck in the middle where you wouldn't find it unless you read the entire book! I don't do that, I leave it sticking a tiny bit out of the top. (I called the bookstore to see if they had a record of who had turned it in for credit, but they didn't, so I split the $50 with the local animal shelter.) I think that would be an especially great thing to do with a book on money management for teens/young adults.
...See More
She wanted to give us money!!!!! not!!!! long
Q
Comments (20)
I called my mother right away and warned her. She gets things in the mail all the time telling her she won some contest and only needs to send $21.99 for handling funds. I've told her over and over and over that if she won a legitimate contest she would not have to pay any money to collect a prize. The past three years that she has lived away from me I just ask her to give me any contest she thinks she wins and I will check it out on the internet to see if it is legit. I read it, then tear it up and toss it and tell her it is a come on to buy some piece of junk, which it usually is. I don't know why she keeps falling for stuff like that. Bob and I both usually don't answer the phone if we don't recognize the number or name, but for some reason he answered it today. I hope he doesn't do that again. To me, my time is too valuable to waste on dirty scumbags like that woman that called today. I worry that she will contact someone as naive as my mother. Greed is also a factor. Most people know whether or not they had money removed from their accounts, so shouldn't be willing to accept a payback. Linda
...See More
Anyone interested in trading some rose bands or cuttings come spring?
Q
Comments (54)
Hi Alana, I appreciate being welcomed and yes, you did explain that very well. Gagal, Hi to you and glad to know that SdlM roots like a weed - this will be great for my very damaged ego after my recent disasters. Do you grow Zeffy? I am looking to put in a line of Madame Isaac Pereire, Sharifa Asma, SdlM and Grandmother's Hat right under the windows on the front side of my house. The idea is that as long we keep the windows open, the front rooms are fragrant, hopefully 9-10 months of the year. I live in 6a/6b, and I need a rose that, as another poster said about Benjamin Britten, blooms like a fool. Still chuckling about that one. Much regards and thank you for being so willing to share your knowledge and network with me. Nancy
...See More
maifleur01
13 years ago
The person that you did the taxes I think is great that he gives but I also wonder about who pays the taxes and insurance on his home and any cars that he might have. I have known lots of people that would love to have his income but would not be able to afford taxes or insurance and still eat and have funds to go any where.
jannie
13 years ago
I live in the US where $22,000 doesn't go very far. I am cetainly impressed that someone living with a smallish income can be so generous. Imagine giving ten percent of your income to charity. Where I come from that would be called "Tithing".
joyfulguy
Original Author
12 years ago
I also know a person, also a senior, who on last year's income of something over $44,000.00 paid zero federal tax and about $5.00 provincial tax, plus a health-care "levy" instituted by our province a few years ago - that's "not a tax", you understand (but that's calculated on the income tax form, and is rather difficult to avoid) of about $450.00.

It took between 20 - 25% of that person's income given to charities and in support of political parties to achieve that low-, almost nil-tax status.

ole joyful
sherwoodva
12 years ago
Ed, are political contributions tax exempt in Canada? Here, we can't deduct them.
ivamae
12 years ago
I heard one time that the amount of tax that would be required on a final estate would be eliminated if you had made arrangements to have that amount donated to a charity.

How would you go about seeing that would be done? The tax has to be completed before distributions are done, I understand.

How could you estimate the amount of tax that might have to be paid after you are no longer around. My assets are very small in comparison to many and I have many unused charitable donations and also considerable unused capital losses, .

I had wondered about a codicil to my will but was told that it would be better to have my will rewritten to show a percentage of my assets are willed to certain charities. I'm not sure that I agree with this as I presently would have no idea what percentage would be close to the right amount. I'm wondering why I couldn't write a codicil to have the final tax partly prepared so that it was known what the tax would be and then have that amount paid to some charities.

Any suggestions.

This is in Ontario Canada
joyfulguy
Original Author
12 years ago
Presuming that you have full confidence in both the skill and the integrity of your executor, which should be a "given", shouldn't it? ... empower the executor to alter the amounts to be distributed in order to be tax-efficient to whatever level/rate you choose.

ole joyful

Anyone interested in a Money Giving testimonial?

Comments (8)

peanutmom

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

Related Discussions

maifleur01

jannie

joyfulguy
Original Author

sherwoodva

ivamae

joyfulguy
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Anyone interested in a Money Giving testimonial?

Comments (8)

peanutmom

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

Related Discussions

maifleur01

jannie

joyfulguyOriginal Author

sherwoodva

ivamae

joyfulguyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

joyfulguy
Original Author

joyfulguy
Original Author