Discretionary Income

Discretionary income. Hmmmm…. I suppose that refers to money that is left over after you have made all of your monthly payments, bought your food, clothing, paid for the kids extra curricular activities, put away a little something for a rainy day and of course you need to factor in a little for entertainment. Money left over? Hahahahahahahahaha!

 

Where do we put our “spare” money? The rich feel a need to support the arts. Things like philharmonic orchestras, art galleries, the opera and other more or less useless charities like “Spats for the Homeless”, there is no need for them to be homeless and look bad. I know the rich do a lot of good, partly because they are civic minded and partly because donating money to worthy causes give great tax deductions. I can’t decide if this is a worthwhile use for my discretionary dollars.

 

There are people in our province who are raising money to save the wild horses from a government declared cull. Horses are noble creatures and deserve to live their lives without fear of being killed simply because they are successful in the wild. The ranchers in the area don’t like the horses because they compete with the cattle for forage. I can see that both sides make very good points. I can’t decide if this is a worthwhile use for my discretionary dollars.

 

Recently a woman had a couple hundred dogs taken away from her because they were in a terrible state. Most were on the verge of starvation, some were very sick, some had to be euthanized and all were living in deplorable conditions. This woman had done the same thing in Saskatchewan and or BC. I don’t think there is any doubt that she loves dogs. I don’t think there is any doubt that she has a mental problem of some kind. There is a lot of money being raised to help treat these animals and then find them homes. Our Humane society does a wonderful job and I have gotten all of my dogs from them. I can’t decide if this is a worthwhile use for my discretionary dollars.

 

Every day on my way to have coffee, there is a homeless man at the intersection of 32^nd ave and 36^th street holding his hat in hand and begging for dollars. Other intersections have other men with cardboard signs that declare they are HOMELESS AND HUNGRY. There are wonderful organizations in the city that provide food and a warm bed for the needy. The Salvation Army, the Calgary Drop In Centre, In From the Cold and The Mustard Seed all do wonderful jobs for the less fortunate peoples in Calgary. I can’t decide if this is a worthwhile use for my discretionary dollars.

Over the years I have attended a number of different churches and all of them do many good works both home and abroad. They have programs to help the cities youth, keeping them occupied and away from drugs hopefully. They will council adults that need spiritual guidance and give them a place to belong. Most of the major religions have programs to help the needy in other poor countries around the world. I can’t decide if this is a worthwhile use for my discretionary dollars.

 

The Red Cross is an organization that is a first responder whenever there is a catastrophe anywhere in the world. They mobilize needed items like clothing, food and temporary shelters immediately after earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes or fires. They have the expertise to give the people and government a hand up when needed.  I can’t decide if this is a worthwhile use for my discretionary dollars.

There are so many places to give your hard earned dollars that it is difficult to know just where it will do the most good. I suspect the key to giving is you should find an organization that does good work and that also makes you feel good at the same time. That’s how to decide if it is a worthwhile use for your discretionary dollars.