give money or give of self ?
 

Its the "I don't need people to do me favors and I don't want to owe any" line that strikes me.

This propsed view is kinda cynical also, but I think it holds water:
--I ask-Can you guarantee that you will **never** need people to do you favors ?-- (I think that there are a lot of things that money can't buy)
If you can guaranteee a life not requiring intervention, then by this arguement doesnt apply to you. Perhaps someone else will present a better one (my presentation sucks =)

I see life as pretty chancy for everyone, so why not help others, I've seen "what goes around comes around" enough times to belive it will always be true.

You origional question asked about why giving is part of a finanical plan: there are many better reasons to give (money) than the ones that I've mentioned, most of them transcend this world and material posessions (IMHO) but as far as finances go, thats how I see it.
-John

Kuan the reasons are not simple, maybe its just because its the right thing to do. But pretty much all wealthy people donate a lot of money. Actualy according to Robert K, giving is an important part of acheiving financial success.

Thanks for your thoughts Wes, and Kyle, Hattie, and Sid, John, Raymr. It's a tough subject for me since I find myself on the giving side a lot and can't find any financial justification for doing so. It seems most people agree that charity is a good thing. At least half the people in America agree that charity should be voluntary, and most believe that it's their constitutional right to make a buck by any legal means possible.

My kid has a piggy bank with four slots. Save, spend, give, and invest. Yeah yeah, I know he's a little young. Most parenting guidelines they start getting it at around five. But now I find myself in the predicament of trying to explain why giving is important. Why should he share his toys? Why share anything?

I think it comes down that we all have to live in this world, so if one can afford to they should give to help others.

Look at how much aid we send to other countries, we probably give more money then almost any other country.

It all comes down to what has already been stated:

What goes around, comes around. It's a universal value. We are social creatures and we function best when we cooperate.

If you enjoy giving, then by all means do it. If you do not enjoy it then do not do it.

Most importantly, if you give someone a gift, pay no attention to how your gift is used. Once you give it away it's not your business anymore.

Why give? The only reason I would give is if I wanted to.

Ah, it's all about the children. I see why you're seeking advice! That's a head scratcher for sure.

For sharing it's easy (well, easy for me to say, anyhow). If you don't share you won't have any friends and they won't be inclined to share with you, either.

For giving, does he ever color pictures and give them to people, or do that sort of thing? Maybe you don't need to explain anything about giving, other than what your personal motivations are if he asks.

Well it started out about the 3 year old, but it quickly became about me. He gives, he's difficult when it comes to sharing, but he's getting there. It's just a matter of getting a grip on his emotions.

In a sense, this thread is starting to turn into the pointer in OD's moral-political compass. I'd like to hear more. I'd really like to hear from those who think giving is not at all important, and why.

Wow, well said.

Kuan, you mentioned becoming "rich," and that giving can only delay said condition. It's a cliche, but "rich" is a subjective term. I don't make nearly enough to give enough money to claim it on my taxes (I don't think -- I've never really investigated what the limit is), but I nevertheless enjoy giving. I feel "rich" for doing so, and I agree that what goes around comes round -- the karma effect. I have received plenty of it, and I like contributing as well. For example,
I try to assist stranded motorists; I would like to know that someone might do the same for me when I need it, and I think someone probably would.

Maybe the answer is aesthetic. A person who develops the ability to give is a more beautiful person than the selfish person? Selfishness strikes me as ugly.
I visited the mansion house of the Oneida Community last week. Probably the most giving American social experiment ever imagined and carried out. It was almost a complete Christian communism devoted to the development of human happiness thru unselfishness, to the point where they considered monogamous marriage selfishness. The whole community considered itself married, sexual relations occurred (heterosexually) between members freely, and the children were considered property of the community and not the parents. They considered sexual acts the most divine of human acts and avoided pregnancies thru the deliberately cultivated ability of the males to not ejaculate during sex. According to most studies carried out by professional observers, the people in the community were very happy.

Here is another explaination. If you earn say $100 over the tax bracket, you are now in a higher tax bracket and taxed at a higher percentage. As such, you might be better off donating say $200 to a deductable charity and bring yourself under the higher bracket into the lower bracket. So you give to get something.

Yes it is. However, if you give and feel good, you are basically buying yourslf a good feeling. Just like sex. You can get yourself off. However sometimes it is better with a hooker. You pay her to get you off and you feel good about it as compared to a DIY job.

What goes around comes around only in certain circumstances. Very often it doesn't. So, that isn't a rule. It is a hope. For instance, the "Golden Rule" only works if enough people in a community believe in it and carry it out. Otherwise, it is a pretty saying but essentially worthless.

Yes. However that aid is not free. NILIF. We do it so it buys us something in the future.

Interesting analogy
 

Don't think I'd use that with the kids, though.

I've always tried to teach my kids the value of 1) working for the things they want, 2) saving some of everything thing they get, 3) sharing (giving) some of what they have been fortunate to have, and 4) recognizing that once you've given something to someone, it's theirs. Quit worrying about it.

These things seem to have worked pretty well for me. My dad taught them to me, and both he and I have done pretty well in life.

My kids, who are 29, 16, and 14 seem to be on the right track, so far, Kuan. Good luck with yours. Being a good person, kind, and generous hasn't ever hurt anyone that I know of. Being a mean-spirited, tight-wad, ********* has, though.

I have seen it enough to take, on faith, that it generally does. That's "rule" enough for me. Of course, that's a personal belief, and I don't expect you, or anyone else, to share it. That said, I am very comfortable in my belief that good deeds do not go unnoticed; I am a much happier person since realizing this.