5 affordable ways to do good

As the cost-of-living crisis worsens, charities have seen surges in demand for their services but a decrease in donations. How can we continue to support charities at this time?

Almost 6 in 10 people (58%) plan to cut back on non-essential spending this year as the cost-of-living crisis worsens. Research from Charities Aid Foundation showed that financial pressures are already affecting charitable giving, with donations falling by an estimated £2 million in March. 

At the same time, as more families face money problems, 86% of charity leaders anticipate an increased demand for their services. Homelessness, food bank and debt charities are at risk being overwhelmed as households struggle to cope with the financial strain. Research from The Trussell Trust showed that 40% of Brits receiving Universal Credit have been forced into debt this winter just to eat and pay bills. 

It is a perfect storm for charities and those that depend on them. With many of us having to cut back, here are 5 ways you can continue to support charities without breaking the bank. 

1. Donate pennies with Ripples

The Ripples app rounds up your card payments and donates pennies every time you spend. You choose the charity and set a weekly limit so that you only ever donate amounts that you won’t miss. You can also pause or change your limits at any time. Learn more at www.joinripples.org.

2. Shop at Amazon Smile

Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to a charity of your choice when you shop via smile.amazon.co.uk. It’s completely free - no costs, no fees. Amazon Smile has raised over £280m worldwide. If you struggle to remember to use the Amazon Smile link, we recommend installing this browser extension which redirects you if you go to the normal Amazon site.

3. Donate clothes by freepost

You can donate quality items you no longer need by freepost to charities like The British Red Cross. Some shops offer furniture collection services too. Find out more here. 

4. Volunteer

If you are not in a position to donate, consider volunteering your time instead. You can find a database full of great volunteering opportunities at www.doit.life. 

5. Declutter your cupboards and donate what you don’t use

Food banks all over the country are calling for donations. As part of your Spring cleaning, clear out your pantry and donate all of those long-life items that you don’t use or can replace cheaply.