I received a letter in the mail from Food for the Poor saying that it only took 6 cents to feed a child for one meal. I thought that surely it couldn't be that simple so I looked up some other charities like World Vision and Catholic Relief Services among others. The numbers that I found ranged from 22 to 25 cents per meal. Food for the Poor said that they bought in bulk and it was for a child so 6 cents could be right.
What does that mean? Six cents won't buy anything in the US. But how quickly could a little savings add up to help the poor.
1 soda = at least a dollar or 4 to 16 meals for the poor
1 fast food meal = about $7 or take leftovers for lunch and provide 28 to 116 meals
1 restaurant meal for a family of 4 = $50 or eat at home or with coupons for $10 and provide 160 to over 650 meals
Doesn't that just blow your mind? It's so easy to think living frugally just doesn't add up quickly enough. But it depends on where you put your money to work. I really like the three charities that I've mentioned because they provide more than just rice and beans. There are seeds, animals, water pumps, education and more that help people to provide better for their own families.
What other ways can we save in our daily lives that can add up quickly to help the poor?
Eat less meat
Drink more water
Eliminate the coffee maker
Get rid of makeup (I've done this. My skin feels so much better clean and moisturized instead of made up)
Mend clothes or buy from thrift stores instead of buying new
Use shopping bags instead of trash bags
Combine trips to save gas
and many, many more
What kind of impact will your blessings make on the world?
