If you're in the throes of holiday shopping and all caught up in what to get for your friends, family, teachers, etc.. then allow me to put up a red light.

What do your really need that you don't already have?

I was listening to a local radio station (Jeff and Jerr for you local San Diegans). Every year they do something called "breaking and entering Christmas". They choose a family that is struggling and they "break in" to their house and give them everything they need.

This year, the winner was chosen based on a letter written by a 5th grade teacher. One of her students lives in a shack, along with his parents, siblings, cousins and grandmother. They sleep on blankets on the floor all snuggled together. The boy often wears damp clothes to school. Yet he never complains. When the class wrote letters to Santa, he asked for a heater for his grandmother, a bed for his family and toys for his cousins. Nothing for himself.

When I listened to this story I couldn't help but cry. They replayed the story and the second time, I had my 7 year old son listen with me. I could see by the look on his face that the story really touched him. This little boy could easily go to my son's school.

My family is so fortunate. We have everything we really need. Sure I would like some extra things for myself and my children will get some fun toys this holiday. But the best gift comes in helping someone else. Having my son participate in giving is also the best gift I can give him.

I don't mean to sound like some high falutin' do-gooder. Trust me, I have evil thoughts and deeds, just like everyone else (as evidence, see the Mr. Bean Christmas video below). I also realize that with the economy the way it is, giving to charity may not be a top priority. But giving has many benefits for you and your family.

Foster a Sense of Empathy in Your Children

One of the ways you can help to foster a sense of caring in your child is by teaching him or or her to help others. According to the American Psychological Association, a study by Ziporah Magen, Ph.D. and Rachel Aharoni, Ph.D. found that teenagers who were involved in helping others felt very positive about their lives and had high hopes for their own futures.

There are so many ways to do this. Many parents have their children divide their allowance into three containers: spending, saving and sharing. They can donate their time (depending on their age) or do something as simple as gather some of their toys and clothes to donate to a local charity.

Physical and Mental Well-Being

Donating to a charity makes you feel good. Allan Luks, author of The Healing Power of Doing Good, describes many scientifically documented accounts of people gaining physical, mental and emotional benefits from doing good. Luks even describes a "helper's high" that is similar to the high we feel after exercising.

Professional Development

Many companies have matching programs whereby employees contributions to a charity are matched by the employer. You'll want to find out if your company has such a program and determine the criteria for participation. Companies also have company sponsored events that promote team building. Participating in these kinds of company activities helps both you and your organization build their reputation within the community and the organization.

Financial Benefits

From a purely financial standpoint, giving to charity makes good sense. That’s because you can often “write off” the amounts you gave to charity on your tax forms. Business owners can especially benefit from this if they give through their businesses. To learn more about the tax benefits of giving, go to: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=31 

There are tons of charities to choose from (over 1 million non-profits in the U.S. alone), and you'll want to do your research to determine the ones that are the best fits for you. Find a cause that speaks to your heart, but also research the charity itself to see how much of your donation ends up in the hands of those who need it (vs. administrative, overhead and marketing expenses).

One of my favorite resources is CharityNavigator.org, an independent charity evaluator with information on over 5,000 U.S. charities. Here is a great video by CharityNavigator with some tips on how to be most effective with your giving.

No matter how much you give, whether it be time or money or in-kind donations, you will benefit by helping others. I hope you have a very happy holiday!

Cindy

p.s. A great site for All Things Chirstmas is AllThingsChristmas.com.

Cindy Schulson is a coach for those who work from home or want to have a home business. Her focus is on working smart by helping you leverage the power of the Internet and attract qualified people to you. Request a complimentary consultation and a FREE copy of her ebook. You can also contact her directly (email:cindy@homebusinesswins.com or tel: (619) 318-8688).