Okay, one of the causes I support is holding their annual gala on Oct. 1. We will be out of town*, so I let the Executive Director know I was sending a check with a mutual friend who will be attending. My 1k check will go for a program called Arts Access. They bus kids from all over the county to live theater performances. For many of them, it's the first time they've set foot in a "real" theater. Bonus: I often usher these shows, 'cause I love seeing the looks on the kid's faces, plus I can usher during school hours because I am, well, FIRE. Win-win. I made sure to date the check for Oct. 1, so it counts on the Sam Scale, right?
Okay SS, remember upthread where we talked about helping family vs. charity? Ask my why I'll be out of town... ooh, thank you for asking... DSD and her husband just 1) got married 2) had a baby and 3) bought a tiny condo in the very expensive place where they live. (Not necessarily in that exact order.)
*To celebrate these milestones, we are 1) redoing their kitchen, including refinishing the cabinets, new hardware, and all new appliances 2) replacing all the flooring and 3) painting the whole place. Plus it's an 18 hour drive each way. And yes, we are doing all the work ourselves. We have a week. (No sleep for us.) DH has done most of the ordering and purchasing of supplies and materials, but I'm sure it's safe to say we're going to end up in the $3-5k range.
As mentioned above, due to early and frequent brainwashing in Catholic school, my brain separates "giving to charity", i.e. people you don't know, from "helping others" i.e. family members (who are not mooching), i.e. people you do know. On the Sailor Sam Scale (See how much I learn here?), these two may be grouped together. Therefore, I conclude that we have pulled a Scrubbyfish and given nearly all of our net earnings away this month. Or will have, by the end of this trip.