Charity giving...

Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
I'm feeling so bad, and not for the first time.
Yet again, I've allowed myself to engage in conversation when exiting my local supermarket, which I had just popped into quickly for a few supplies.
I decided some while ago that I would not give out my details to make a regular donation online after a bad experience with, and I hate to say it, the Guide Dogs Assiocation.
But all of these charities are worthy causes I know, but I have to watch my spending , however small the outgoing.
I just don't want to stand there giving out my details, and then I feel so deflated and guilty.
The people involved are nearly always young and keen and I hate to disappoint them.
I give what I can when I can but just feel it isn't enough :sad:
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
kateincornwall said:
I`m afraid I have had to learn to steel myself and walk on by . I do give to a few charities and do the Cornwall Air Ambulance lottery and simply cannot afford to give any more . Dont feel bad , Helen , we do what we can but should not feel guilty for saying no thank you or walking by xx
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What you say is right Kate, I know xx
I do Hereford and Worcester lottery too.
I notice the RNLI have a stall by the exit with various goods like pens etc and a tin for donations. I feel that's a better way of doing it, there is no pressure.
 
Lisa

Lisa

Moderator
Location
Alberta, Canada
Definitely don’t feel guilty! We simply cannot give to ALL the charities. You have a few you support, and that’s great! Even if you “only” supported one, that’s great! Even if you didn’t financially support any but volunteered in some capacity, great! You are doing what you can with the resources you have. No need for guilt! And don’t worry, they are used to people saying no. It’s part of the “job”.
 
JES72

JES72

Location
SW London UK
I have a little line I give them which is true so I don’t feel bad. I listen about the charity then say “I have a few charities that I support already which I review once a year, I’ll add your charity to my list for next time I change over the charities I gave to.” This usually works but I did get caught by a successfully persuasive man who managed to get me signed up for a charity for the deaf. So may need to reduce the amounts I give to other charities.
 
Atemas

Atemas

UK Tour Guide
Location
North Cambridgeshire
You shouldn’t feel bad @Selina27 although I can understand that you would as you are a kind lady. I have stopped feeling guilty at saying no thank you when asked to give. Also all the time pressing decline when trying to pay for something with my card and a donation to some charity or another appears first. That now irritates me as it happens so much.
I have a few charities I support and I stick with them.
 
MrChew

MrChew

Selina27 said:
I'm feeling so bad, and not for the first time.
Yet again, I've allowed myself to engage in conversation when exiting my local supermarket, which I had just popped into quickly for a few supplies.
I decided some while ago that I would not give out my details to make a regular donation online after a bad experience with, and I hate to say it, the Guide Dogs Assiocation.
But all of these charities are worthy causes I know, but I have to watch my spending , however small the outgoing.
I just don't want to stand there giving out my details, and then I feel so deflated and guilty.
The people involved are nearly always young and keen and I hate to disappoint them.
I give what I can when I can but just feel it isn't enough :sad:
Click to expand...
Don't feel bad. I dislike the fact that they try to guilt people into signing up for recurring donations that are harder to factor into a budget and may be hard to cancel. I only ever make one off donations- and should really do more. I try to make the decisions with a level head and after doing some research about where I can make an impact.
 
Granca

Granca

Try not to feel guilty, Helen. The radio appeals for little-known charities often make me wish I could help, but I have to stick to those I support regularly, with an occasional small donation for a special appeal. I also volunteer for a couple of charities too, a large national one and a small local one.

We all have different priorities and interests, so I hope that spreads support across the worthwhile charities. There seem to be more now who ring the doorbell in the early evening, but I steel myself to say that I’m too busy…
 
edzbird

edzbird

Location
Isle of Man
I like to donate to charities that I choose as and when I can afford a donation. It may be as low as 50 pence, it may be £10, but I can't commit to a regular, set amount. I understand they like the regular donations to help with budgeting, but the ad hoc donations are equally as valuable.

We recently had one of those charity sign up things at all the Tesco stores, it was a good cause, but they were sort of masquerading as a Manx charity when they were really a UK charity, I mean they weren't really but lots and I mean LOTS of people thought it was Manx. I'm afraid I just walked by and ignored them, no eye contact. I don't like to get into conversation.
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Selina27 said:
I'm feeling so bad, and not for the first time.
Yet again, I've allowed myself to engage in conversation when exiting my local supermarket, which I had just popped into quickly for a few supplies.
I decided some while ago that I would not give out my details to make a regular donation online after a bad experience with, and I hate to say it, the Guide Dogs Assiocation.
But all of these charities are worthy causes I know, but I have to watch my spending , however small the outgoing.
I just don't want to stand there giving out my details, and then I feel so deflated and guilty.
The people involved are nearly always young and keen and I hate to disappoint them.
I give what I can when I can but just feel it isn't enough :sad:
Click to expand...
Oh, this is horrible - I completely understand the guilt. I think the thing we often overlook is that these charity collectors are very trained in extracting money/pledges to donate from people, because it’s their sole motivation. Not really criticising them (much), but that’s what they do - so they have a lot of techniques and tricks to get people signed up, like appealing to politeness (“can I just have a moment of your time?”) and people’s natural instinct not to be rude. Youth and enthusiasm also tend to cut through to people over 40. It might help to know these people are solely focused on getting your sign up, often being paid bonuses on this basis - so you’re not offending someone if you say no, simply turning down a business proposal. I rehearse the line Bob uses - “I don’t sign up for anything on the street/at the door” - and it’s been very effective; if you can get it out straight away, collectors usually cut their losses and move on to a more likely donor.
 
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