Do you plan on donating on Octet mom'...

iVillage Member

Registered: 08-25-2008

592	Sat, 02-14-2009 - 1:25pm

Do you plan on donating on Octet mom's website?

Yes
No
Maybe in the future

You will be able to change your vote.

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lvluver

iVillage Member

Registered: 02-06-2009

In reply to: whoovillereject

Do you plan on donating on Octet mom'...

Fri, 02-20-2009 - 10:14pm

I am not going to get into a debate about taxes and giving money away as I do have better things to do with my time-like volunteering to help the homeless in the morning so I have to get to bed :) BUT...I will say that I give because I am human and want to help others who are less fortunate than myself. I don't do it to "itemize" on my taxes or to have a "write-off" at the end of the year. There is MORE to my helping others than that and would NEVER think to "itemize" a dollar here or there or some food or clothes item I would give to someone who looks like they need it.

I do it from my heart and soul and find it really horrible that people would consider doing so to save money on their taxes :(

Have a good night :)

semi_emptynester

iVillage Member

Registered: 02-07-2009

In reply to: whoovillereject

Do you plan on donating on Octet mom'...

Fri, 02-20-2009 - 10:18pm

Since no one else has posted the they only give to charity for a tax write off you are in the same boat as the rest of us.

Edited 2/20/2009 10:33 pm ET by semi-emptynester

finally_me

iVillage Member

Registered: 04-22-2005

In reply to: whoovillereject

Do you plan on donating on Octet mom'...

Fri, 02-20-2009 - 10:39pm

That seems to be what this is about. She seems to think that the only reason why a person might strongly prefer to donate to a homeless shelter instead of giving money directly to a homeless person is because the donation to the shelter is tax deductible. But as you have pointed out, giving the money directly to the homeless person is ALSO tax deductible. It's not about tax deductions. It's about ensuring that the same amount of money does a greater amount of good. A $5 bill might feed one person on a corner, but feed five people in a shelter. (It also might buy cigarettes for the person on the corner, but feed five people in a shelter).

slowroadrunner

iVillage Member

Registered: 08-31-2008

In reply to: whoovillereject

Do you plan on donating on Octet mom'...

Fri, 02-20-2009 - 10:41pm

Do you tithe a certain percentage of your income regardless of tax implication?

Get back to me when "your heart and soul" can be quantified. I won't wait for the result.

I itemize, I volunteer, I tithe, I give. I work within the tax structure dictated by the IRS. I prefer my dollars going to the charities I choose rather than the government, e.g. war, waste et al. I'm pretty sure I can help others by my targeted contributions, with tax benefit, than my government can direct my taxes.

I find it really horrible that people aren't aware how every dollar is spent with transparency by the government.

BTW - I'm as lefty liberal as you come, and I still don't trust government to take care of spending my tax dollars.