Saving for a rainy day or giving something useful away?
What if I need it?
Clutter drives me crazy. In fact, it tends to paralyze me. The solution is simple - when I need to be active and productive, I need to make sure that life around me is organized. Contrast this scenario with my tendency to save. You never know when you might need it, right? Silly to throw things away or donate things when you might need them again. Given my need for organization, of course I have these saved items organized. What else?
In contrast, my husband's motto is "when in doubt throw it out." It took us a few years to find a happy medium. As you might imagine it took some bouts in the "ring" and some trial and error. Our hard fought solution is that we each mind our own stuff. Good plan in general.
It pains me to admit that his way may make more sense at times. One of the things I've saved relatively diligently is airline miles. I've got plenty of miles but hardly enough for a ticket. Even when I have enough for a ticket I don't have time to use them. So, what do I do with this hodgepodge collection of airline miles? Fly more? Save more? Why not share more?
Share miles and do good
Many mileage programs allow you to donate miles to charity. What a great way to do good. In these difficult financial times, charities need help more than ever. One way to share without dipping into your savings account is to share the miles that are just "laying around" collecting dust. Why not put them to flight and send someone who really needs them on their way?
For instance, you could give your miles to injured military personnel and their families, to Make-A-Wish, Medical Teams International, Angel Flight West, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Foundation, or the Charity Miles Pool with Alaska Airlines mileage donation program.
Or give your miles to American Red Cross, The Breast Cancer Foundation, Canine Assistants, Children's Miracle Network, The Conservation Fund, Fisher House Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Latin American Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation, or Unicef with Delta Airlines' Skywish program.
United Airlines supports some of the same and several other charities through its Charity Miles program.
Do you save miles? Which airline mileage program does your favorite carrier offer? Would you consider donating miles? It's just one more way to extend Christmas to those in need.
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