Putting your money where your values are -- beyond basics

I am a big fan of Michelle Singletary and her straight talk on personal finance. I often think about what Michelle tells us: Put your money where your values are. It sounds simple, but can be difficult to do. I am tempted when I go on business trips to buy things for my daughters to show them I love them, but is that putting my money where my values are? Does buying something they would hardly use for more than two minutes put value on the money I spent? The answer for me is "no" and hence I resist shopping and buying things for people just for the sake of showing them that I thought about them while I was on that trip. Instead, I make sure I spend some quality time doing things they want to do. They need to know I love them without having me buy things for them that they don't need.

So what does putting your money where your values are mean on an everyday basis? Certainly, I agree with Michelle Singletary that one should save for things one value such as education, and use money for things that one values -- like counseling to help relationships that are important to you. One should also give to organizations that have similar values to yours -- whether it be humanitarian relief or conservation or education.

For people who are concerned about what we are doing to our earth, transferring what we spend our money on can help greatly toward social change for a more sustainable society. Instead of buying disposable items, save your money to buy longer-lasting items. Switch from coal-fired power plants to wind-powered electricity generation (it might even save you money!). Buy more locally, and buy more organically grown. Eat less meat. Of course, switch your light bulbs to longer lasting ones (like CFCs) when your old light bulb dies. You have heard all these basics.

But in addition the basic list of "putting your money where your values are", I like to challenge all to look at everyday community things they do in a different light. For example, I am organizing a Bingo fundraiser for my daughter's high school band. I wanted things to be done differently, such as have less disposable things, reusing as much as possible from others, and having prizes that showed my values. So one of the prizes I am donating is

"$50 toward native plants: I take you to any Howard County nursery you want, you pick the plants, I pay, and I plant!"

This prize allows me to buy and plant a native plant for someone else, allowing more native plants to grow in Howard County, and hopefully, providing more habitat for local animals. In addition, I hope that by having this prize at a community fundraiser, more people will think about native plants, ask about native plants, plant native plants, and have a greater sense of community and creativity at local gatherings such as the Family Bingo night!

I hope others will share how putting money where your values are can help lead to other solutions.