We have a poster here who has much more than they need, and gives an enormous amount. And in past iterations of their identity talked at length about feelings related to giving and wealth.
I’m nowhere near the point of being able to give truly remarkable sums of money, but I have ongoing awareness that I live a far more inflated lifestyle than I need to, and never ever give time anymore. And have spent ridiculous sums on things that don’t matter. Right now I’m tying both saving and giving into some truly ridiculous things. Like, if I am buying a pizza when I have a fridge full of food, I can definitely afford to also donate $26 to charity and move $26 into my RRSP. This will be a lower income year from my main job, but I think this lets me see my position of privilege and true cost of luxury a little bit more.
I hope that as my net worth grows I can grow my contributions to the universe. Maybe if I get a $500000 condo instead of a 1.5 million dollar house when the time comes, then I can donate 500 000 and save 500 000. And then set up more donations from the saved and invested funds
I have money anxiety that has meant I tend to hoard savings and been too worried to give/spend money via these routes generally. I have also seen people get taken in by scammers so I tended to only give to people I know’s gofundmes. But now with COVID-19 I have started feeling like I should give money even though my money anxiety is now justified. Since I am WFH and getting paid as usual despite no travel expenses I signed up for Patreons from the self employed as I can afford it right now and am worried about them. I have given money to refugees as really worried about them right now. I am looking to give more as I can still save with my non existent commute and entertainment costs (but obviously still want to save in case of job loss in the future). It’s really hard to know how to think about money right now even if you don’t have a big “fear of poverty” mindset from childhood.
can’t offer personal experience, but reminds me of a book a philosophy-major friend loaned me - Strangers Drowning by Larissa MacFarquhar, in which the author interviews and discusses people who have made great sacrifices for ethical reasons - giving nearly all of their income to charity, fostering dozens of children, etc. A subtle treatment including a variety of viewpoints (which is something I also appreciate about Oh My Dollar).