Frugal ways to be kind (Pt. 1)

Young man helping an old man in a Santa Claus hat.

There are countless frugal ways to be kind to others. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Gareth Saunders/Flickr)

The world would be a better place if there were more random acts of kindness. This should be instinctive, born of a desire for nothing else other than to improve someone’s quality of life, without simultaneously sacrificing your own ability to pursue life, liberty and happiness. Here are some frugal ways to be kind, because you can. These random acts of kindness may not be random to you if you follow this list, but recipients won’t care about that.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 1 – Buy their coffee

Once in a while, an extra $5 left with your neighborhood barista can go toward the next customer. It’s a great way to start the day. Tell the barista what you intend, and just make sure that next time, you let her keep the tip.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 2 – Hold open the door

Holding the door open for another person, male or female, young or old, able or disabled, is common courtesy. Most people will appreciate the gesture, and for those who don’t, simply move on. They have enough problems as it is.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 3 – Give to charity

Assuming that you don’t hold onto your clothing and goods until they look like torn sackcloth and furniture remnants from “The Towering Inferno,” why not give to charity? Goodwill and a wide variety of other services are available in most communities. Donate coats, blankets, canned food and more. Sometimes, the organization will come to your home, while other times, a donation center is only a short drive away.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 4 – Yelp it good

Before the online review website Yelp, restaurants still largely depended upon person-to-person recommendations. Yelp has become a powerful taste-making engine, and users take their responsibilities and Yelp reviewers quite seriously. If you like what your local restaurant or business is doing, give them a good review.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 5 – Give blood and plasma

Blood and blood plasma can truly be gifts of life to another in the event of a medical emergency. Provided you are physically able to do so and can find the time, such donations are great acts of life-affirming kindness.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 6 – Work with the elderly and underprivileged

Whether it’s at a nursing home or soup kitchen, donating your time to help others and be a friend is a blessing in the lives of many who have so little and know the pain of loneliness. It doesn’t take much more than listening, talking and spending some time together.

Frugal ways to be kind No. 7 – Housewarming

In Robert Frost’s 1914 poem “Mending Wall,” we read that “good fences make good neighbors.” Yet when it comes to feeling a sense of community and interconnectedness, it simply isn’t true. Reach out to new neighbors with a housewarming gift, something simple like baked goods, a plant or something equally small and meaningful. New friends are always a treasure.