Spreading Joy

Making a Difference One Person At a Time One Day At a Time

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50 Ways to Make a Difference without Spending a penny!

The question I get asked most of all is “how can I make a difference when I can’t even make ends meet?”  We all desire to make a difference for others but sometimes the lack of finances hinder us from doing so.  I came up with 50 Ways to Make a Difference without Spending a Penny because we often feel horrible for not doing more, for not being able to give out $500 here or there or pay off someone’s Christmas Layaway then we shouldn’t do anything at all. That isn’t the right way to look at things.
Making a difference doesn’t have to cost a lot.  
We all desire to give to others, to make a difference but feel that we can’t because of finances.  
So many people have been laid off of their jobs or have had significant cut backs as to the amount of hours worked (which is the case in my family – my husband is not getting a full 40 hour week and boy does that hurt.) The head says “you can’t afford to give and make a difference” while your heart screams “you can’t afford NOT to give and make a difference!” So, what is a person that has a desire to give BIG (and I’m talking give “Oprah big”) supposed to do when the money isn’t there? Forget about the “BIG” portion of giving and simply do what you can with what you have. (No guilt…no guilt because you can’t do more.)
I truly do love to buy things for the sole purpose of giving them away. When my children see things are obviously not for them, they will immediately ask “Who is that for?” because they know that I normally don’t keep things – I give them away.
With my husband’s hours being cut back, I’m still going to give or do something daily to make a difference.
I’m still going to be reminding others to do what you can with what you have…and don’t feel guilty about it!  When finances increase, you will likely increase your giving because you’ll be in the habit of spreading joy to others.
Have fun spreading joy!
If you find yourself asking How can I make a difference? Check out some of the ways I’ll be Spreading Joy while the finances are extremely tight!

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  or other Ministries to pass along to others in need.

9. Hold a yard sale and donate half of the proceeds to a Charity in need.

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.

joy is net of love

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.

If you loved this article then you’ll absolutely LOVE our book – Spreading Joy Daily!  Easy to read with ideas of inspiration for every day!  Men, Women and Children can do these things and impact others!  Click Here to Check it Out

Everyone can absolutely make a difference! The real question is – will you?
Make a Difference
How are you Spreading Joy? Do you have any other ideas of making a difference without spending any money? If so, please share them in the comments! (that would count a too – because we all need as many ideas as we can get!)
Below is a PDF version of this post you can easily print. Enjoy!
If this has helped you, then check out ANOTHER 50 Ways to Make a Difference Without Spending a Penny. You will LOVE it!
Have fun making a difference!

no joy like spreading joy

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© 2009 – 2019, Spreading Joy. All rights reserved.

Comments

  2. 2

    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!!

    Reply
  3. 3

    @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!

    Reply
  5. 5

    @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!!

    Reply
  6. 6

    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

    Reply
    • 7

      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!

      Reply
  9. 10

    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 🙂

    Reply
    • 11

      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}}

      Reply
  10. 12

    @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

    Reply
  12. 15

    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.

    Reply
  13. 16

    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

    Reply
  14. 17

    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

    Reply
    • 18

      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

      Reply
  16. 21

    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

    Reply
  19. 24

    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..

    Reply
  20. 25

    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!

    Reply
  21. 26

    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…
    olabode oluwatosin recently posted..Stop COPYING PEOPLE And Start COPYING JESUS…

    Reply
  22. 27

    Great post and tips! I think we all can and do something, as often as possible, to make this world a better place! I started a non-profit, The Tweet It Forward Fund with cash given to me, to give to others! I give out random gift cards for people who may need a boost of encouragement or support. It is phenomenal how grateful people are and how they turn around when they can and pay it forward! I also have been greatly influenced by yearofgiving.org, a previously unemployed man who gave away $10 a day while he was seeking work! Everyone can check out the annual World Wide Day of Giving here: http://www.facebook.com/events/466734986674879/

    We can all make a difference!

    Reply
  23. 28

    We have a side street across from our house where an officer frequently sits to catch those speeding down our road. (Amazing how often he takes off after people, one after another!) Last Easter I had made cake pops. Before we left the house to go to our family dinner, I took one across the street & gave to him telling him Happy Easter… wearing my bunny ears and all! He looked at me like I had 13 heads but I’m sure it gave him something to go home and tell his family about at the end of his shift.
    Mimzy Wimzy recently posted..Dinner Dilemma: Solved!

    Reply
  26. 31

    I read this on facebook today, then clicked on your link to read more. You are truly an awesome person! I believe in all of the things you have listed, and this is what I posted when I “Shared” it with the “Public”. Thank you! I do so many of the things you have listed above, and my oldest son asked me one day, “Mom, how is it that you can make a cashier that was not smiling when we got to the register, leave her laughing as we are done checking out, with everything that you have gone through in your life?”. I told him, “I believe in trying to touch others lives, by being able to make them laugh, even though others may be having a bad day, I like to try and brighten as many lives as I can. Whether it’s by making them laugh, holding a door open for someone, talking to that elderly person who I may be passing some where, even jumping in front of them where there is are automatic door openers saying, “Let me get that door for you”, then having them laugh. It’s the simple and easy things in life that make an impact on others, and brightens even the smallest part of their day”. The following is what I posted on FB, thank you for being you! 🙂

    This is an “Awesome Share”, please check it out! So many ways to get donations for good causes by simply using a different search engine instead of “Google”, and many more good ideas. Also “Because” schools would love to do this, ask you child’s school if they would like to write letters to soldiers in rehab at “Walter Reid Memorial Hospital”. The address can be found easily by doing a search, do it by using the search engine called “Good Search” and on the right hand side of their page is a place to click on “Making a donation to “Spreading Joy” where the Good Search” will make a donation just for using their search engine, instead of Google. I had my sons whole school, all the teachers wanted to have their classes write letters to the soldiers. I also included some cards from “Dollar Tree”, some humorous, some get well cards and even some jokes that I had. Just think of how many lives and how many soldiers lives will be brightened by receiving these cards and letters, not to mention how the children, and even myself, had such an AWESOME feeling for having known that “You” can make a difference in someone else’s life. “Pay it forward” and “Pass it on”, some of the smallest things can bring so much joy to others by simple acts of random kindness. 🙂 Please check out this website, it’s very cool at the number of items listed, as well as simply holding a door open for someone going in, or coming out of a building, smiling at that cashier when you check out, talking to that elderly person that you may pass in a store, Post Office, etc.. Things that I live by, and also have taught my two sons to do as well. Thank you for this share Maribeth Terry Richards?! 🙂 Simple acts of random kindness can bring so much joy to those who may need a smile, a door held open for them, a kind word, and so much more!
    Sincerely,
    Peggy Armstrong

    Reply
    • 32

      Thank you for this! I’m glad you clicked over to read more! I hope that you also clicked the link for the 2nd batch of ANOTHER 50 ways to make a difference.

      Thank you for the kind words of encouragement! I love that you are showing your son how little things can add up to be HUGE!

      Thank you for sharing this on FB as well! I know others will enjoy it!

      I hope that you’ll continued to be encouraged by our facebook posts from http://facebook.com/spreadingjoycorp

      Thanks for taking the time to share, and then to come over here and let me know! And…thank you for the smile today and have fun spreading joy daily!
      marie recently posted..Galaxy Nextbook Tablet

      Reply
  27. 33

    Thank you so much for sharing this outstanding resource full of free & easy ways to make a difference with us at Make A Difference Mondays! Love what you are doing with your site here!!

    Reply

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  4. […] To easily get started, take the 30 day challenge. One act of joy a day for 30 days, to get you in the habit of spreading joy.  If you think you can not afford to be spreading joy, think again!   Here are 50 ways of making a difference without spending a penny. […]

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