Special Needs Gifts and just where does thrift come into all this

Special Needs Gifts (SNG) are just that. They are gifts you send anytime of the year to give your child something extra. You can stipulate that it go towards a certain need or let the child, their family and/or the Program decide what is most needed at the time. SNGs of less that $25 go into the fund that purchases gifts for all the children. SNGs of $25 to $99 go directly to your child and you will receive a letter telling you what the gift provided for your child. SNGs of $100 or more go directly to your child and you will receive a letter and photos showing what the child received.

Here is an example of a $100 SNG I sent to Jamaica shortly after sponsoring her to welcome her to the family. Jamaica chose quite an array of new clothes, sandals and accessories as well as a lot of groceries; special things that the family can rarely afford to eat. That's one of the great things about this program: American dollars really stretch far in these countries. That helps to keep the monthly cost of sponsorship affordable while supplying things the children really need.

That's where the thrift part comes in. If my financial house was not in order I would not be able to sponsor these children. Thanks to books like Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicky Robin and The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn, which I discovered and took to heart years ago, I retired when I was 41. Greg retired a couple of years earlier at age 43. I have since devoted my life to various volunteer projects including living with my Mom for 3 years towards the end of her life to delay her departure to an assisted living facility. Had I been tied to a job, needing to earn a living, I would never have been able to do that. I currently work 2 half days a week as a bookkeeper only because my boss allows me to set my own schedule and lets me set my own agenda at work provided required things get done on time.

My husband and I keep track of every cent. To some that might sound restrictive but we've been doing it so long it's second nature and requires little time. That attention to detail plus bullet proof investments in Treasury and Government Agency bonds has left us worry free for the last 12 years. I'm not writing all this to brag but to make the point that once you get a hold on your finances you can pursue the things you think are truly worthwhile.

It costs $22 a months to sponsor a child. That works out to about 73 cents a day. What can you buy for 73 cents a day? A stamp? A vending machine soda or candy bar? (if that) Or health care, clothing, education and hope for a child in dire poverty. What's going to give you the best return for your investment?