1. Pass on a book that you’ve enjoyed. Write a note in the front saying what you enjoyed and instruct the next “owner” to pass it on after they have read it.
2. Instead of “googling” when searching -- use Good Search and these guys will make a donation to Spreading Joy. (there is a button on the right that will take you there)
3. Donate gently used dvd’s, vhs tapes and video games -- I’m sure Spreading Joy can find those that will love to use them.
4. Be Positive today -- with the depressing economy, bills falling behind -- this can really be tough, but it will encourage those around you and in the process bring joy to yourself.
5. Donate expired coupons to the troops overseas.
6. Thank a Police Officer today (hopefully NOT while you are getting a ticket!)
7. Give time to your spouse -- do something together, visit a park, bookstore etc.
8. Donate household items to Spreading Joy to pass along to others in need.
9. Hold a yard sale and donate half of the proceeds.
10. Taking the 30 day challenge? Tell me about it here.
11. Baby sit for a friend/neighbor for free.
12. Serve a meal at a homeless shelter or women’s shelter
13. Encourage our soldiers. Send a free letter here.
14. Mentor someone -- have you started your own business? Are you an expert in a certain field? Share that talent!
15. Donate unused craft items to a daycare or elementary school.
16. Turn in those Box Tops for Education -- found on Pillsbury items. Keep these, even if you don’t have kids. There is a school near you.
17. Smile at everyone you come in contact with today.
18. Offer to let someone ahead of you in line.
19. Volunteer in a Nursing home.
20. Donate blood.
21. Donate Plasma -- and get paid for it.
22. Organize a book drive -- get your neighborhood to donate gently used books. Pass out a flier asking for books -- giving instructions to leave them in a bag on the porch letting them know you will pick them up the next week.
23. Turn in your Campbell’s Soup Labels
24. Have a family meal at the table -- talk about current events in the family.
25. Give a handwritten note of encouragement.
26. Start a Gratitude Journal -- leave it out for others to see as they visit you.
27. Donate gently used magazines to a nursing home
28. <-this has been missing for a year and a half, and NO one has said a thing to me about it. LOLOLOL just realized today 10.10.10 hahhaha. I LOVE it!, Leaving it and thank goodness for bonuses. LAUGH at YOURSELF is #28 
29. Call someone who is not feeling well and talk until you make them laugh
30. Volunteer at an animal shelter -- play with the animals.
31. Visit with the elderly or someone who can no longer get out as much as they’d like.
32. Pick flowers from your garden and give away.
33. Volunteer for your local church.
34. Give a thank you card to someone who has made a difference in your life.
35. Run errands for a new Mom (or someone that is sick)
36. Pick up trash you see as you are walking on your route.
37. Volunteer to read to a class at your local Elementary school
38. Write a thank you note to your child’s teacher.
39. Seek out a store manager and let them know what an excellent employee your grocery bagger was. (or cashier).
40. Donate gently used clothing.
41. Volunteer at a hospital.
42. Donate your “free items” from the buy one get one free -- to a local food pantry.
43. Leave a note hanging in or on your mailbox thanking your mail carrier for always being so dependable!
44. Speak to the elderly you pass -- look them in the eye and smile. We tend to forget about the great individuals who paved the way for us.
45. Say Please and Thank you -- show sincere appreciation.
46. Go to Church. There are so many churches. When people get discouraged, that is one of the first places they’ll go. You can encourage so many people this way!
47. Make extra chili and cornbread muffins -- and take to a neighbor.
48. Bake homemade cookies with items you have in your pantry and share with neighborhood children.
49. Donate extra blankets to a homeless shelter.
50. Give a basket of home grown veggies.
51. (a bonus!) Host a game night with your family -- eat dessert first! Turn off cell phones (ok -- kids, you can leave yours on….) but spend time laughing together playing games!
There you have it -- 50 ways to make a difference without spending a single penny.
A most beautiful list, thank you for scattering this piece of joy!
Very nice article and these activities are what life is suppose to be about. In these times we need to draw together, help each other and give what we can when we can. More people need to read and act upon the thoughts in this article, I know I will. Thank you… Peace!!
@Jolie B Studios – thank you for stopping by! I'm glad you found joy in this list! Spreading Joy -It is such an easy and wonderful thing.
@Mike – You are correct dear sir – imagine if everyone we knew would spend some time doing a few things for others every day…the world would be such a different place.
Thank you for stopping by!
I hope you'll both check back often!
Thanks for this list! It’s nice to have some brainstorming material when it comes to looking for ways to serve people!
@Matt,
Thank you for stopping by and also for the link to this article on your website!! I love the title you gave it – Loving for Less.
You are correct in that many people that do not have children simply throw away box tops for education. They live near a school that could benefit from them. So, I hope everyone that sees your article and these comments will take a second and rip those off and put in a special place until they can drop them off by the nearest school. It is literally money in the trash if they don’t!!
Thank you, again! Love the concept – becoming Last – as YOU know, the last shall be first!! *HUGS* for what you do!!
Dear Marie…..I knew I liked you for a reason!!!! I think it’s because you’re a lot like me!!!!
I also am a kind tender hearted person that would love for everyone in this world to be happy. I would love to see more respect, and compassion in this world.
In my writings on the Mazukin Adventures I try to show the importance of loving one another – being kind, respectful and showing children how important family, friends and togetherness is.
I hopw that some how we can help each other out by spreading the word. I read your articles on your site – and it’s simply AWESOME!
I am going to have a mom’s forum…maybe we can incorporate you into it!!! I will also post comments on Mazey’s MySpace and let them know about your site there I reach about 8,000 moms there. I hope to hear from you we can talk further.
You’re an awesome person, I am very grateful that I have gotten the chance to get to know you and be friends…
Lots of hugs
Kat(mazey)
kat@mazukins.com
Kat @mazukins
I have ALWAYS loved Mazey and will be honored to help you in any way that I can. Children has so much power and yet many do not even realize it. They can make huge changes – just by being their cute little selves!!
Looking forwards to spending more time & working with you!
Thanks for stopping by!
What a great list! Thanks for sharing
You are so COOL! Great ideas all and I’ll work down the list.
Thank you so much for this great list.
I have a passion for helping people any way I can even
If it’s just a smile or a laugh, just something to make their
day better. You are so kind, have a great day. Maybe we can connect on skype? I would love to talk with you sometime.
Tske care
Kelly,
That would be awesome to chat with you. Having the passion and actually helping are such wonderful things. Many miss out on simple acts of joy because they feel it doesn’t make a difference. Even when I’m answering phones – or calling someone, I try to make the experience as pleasant as possible. You just never know.
Thank you – you taking the time to stop by and comment is awesome.
{{HUGS}}
@Samantha @Alicia thank you both for stopping by and checking it out. I hope this list has inspired you and that your heart will soar as you work on some of the things listed here!
{{{HUGS}}} yall
I’ve started my 30 days of spreading joy and am posting on my website! Thanks for the ideas! Hope you have a great day! God Bless!
Sherry recently posted..Truly blessed!
Sherry Thank you soooo much!! I know that your heart will soar as you do something everyday for others. You’ll enjoy developing such a wonderful habit! Thank you for letting me know!
{{HUGS}}
Marie recently posted..Red Ink by Kathy Macias
I have found a way to spread some joy and peace of mind too. When I am in heavy traffic or situations where people are trying to get in lines to exit etc., I am the one who lets lots of people in, over, whatever the situation requires… feels good and I get lots of smiles and waves. I always hope that they will return the favor to other drivers.
I love this idea! I do the same and love it. AND I’m with you! I always hope that they will remember it and be a little more generous when someone else needs out and they will let them too.
Thank you for sharing this!!
hope your new year is off to a fantabulous start!!
{{HUGS}}
@spreadingJOY
Great list! I am also spreading the news/give/joy as it does not take a lot to help others. I appreciate othersmwho alsomfind that the seemingly small stuff can be BIG stuff to others! Keep it going and you may find some other ideas on the blog that can spread lots of joy
Thanks Jacquline – I appreciate you taking the time to encourage others here. I am looking forward to learning more about you and your efforts at 365give!!
{{Hugs}}
@spreadingJOY
I spread joy by donating meals to starving children around the world.
This is an awesome way to make a huge difference!! Thank you for sharing with us!!
{{HUGS}}
@spreadingJOY
Thanks Marie,iam warry impressed, i like to give all i have to people there have nothing,not ifen a thirt or a drink,behabs a penny,that makes me so sad,that i found to give it all,gives me happyness, Joy and peace,”Jesus loves us so much,that he gives his live for all of us.”And this is the most braches gift of all.God bless you so big,with a huge hug from me,your friend.H.Dieter
Great list.Thnks for your sharing.This is an awesome way to make a huge difference!
van025 recently posted..do college students go on vacation with their family
WONDERFUL ideas! Thank you for encouraging us spread the JOY far & wide!
hey there and thank you for your info – I have certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this website, since I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my email and can look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again soon..
These are just so great! Also wanted to share a great little fact that I heard recently: when you smile at someone even if they do not smile back; the place in the brain where smiles originate actually lights up, spreading a little bit of joy to the person! So, your smile not spreads only joy to your own soul but also to the soul of others!! Such great work you are doing here. Glad I ran across it on Twitter!
Wow!
First of all,God bless you…most times people think when you want to give it has to be something really big and expensive before people will appreciate it,but no,the little things count the most because the are always available to us!thanks for the great post, these ideas can effortlessly give YOU and the PERSON your given JOY,keep Spreading Joy dear…
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