Charitable Giving

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Give Experiences - Not Stuff This Holiday Season

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Give Experiences - Not Stuff This Holiday Season

Do your Christmas gifts spark joy? The answer is usually “YES!” on Christmas morning or at a holiday party when we unwrap our presents and watch others enjoy their gifts as well. But once the New Year rolls around many of those gifts are fighting for closet space with holiday decorations and all the stuff we keep meaning to donate. And one thing that definitely doesn't "spark joy" is household clutter.

While the shine tends to wear off presents much faster than we expect, many researchers have concluded that spending money on experiences rather than stuff can create more meaningful and lasting happiness. This holiday season, consider putting money towards one of these gifts to create memories that will boost the Return on Life for years to come.

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Write a Charitable Bucket List

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Write a Charitable Bucket List

Creating a bucket list can be a great way to visualize your long-term money goals and -- more importantly -- start checking them off. But as the science linking giving to happiness grows stronger, many people have started creating charitable bucket lists that can help improve their Return on Life for themselves, their communities, and people in need.

Here are three ideas for filling your own giving bucket that could connect your money to your life in more meaningful ways.

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Year-End Charitable Giving

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Year-End Charitable Giving

A list of things to consider as you think about year-end charitable donations

With its blinking lights, family traditions, and festive music, December is the most wonderful time of the year. And according to Charity Navigator, the month of December really is wonderful because December sees approximately 30% of all annual charitable giving.

Despite the greatest of intentions, many will inevitably make mistakes in how they give, especially if they wait until the last minute. So, here is a list of things for you to think about as you consider your year-end charitable donations…