“I don’t know if I’m going to eat today.”
I’d never expected someone I knew to utter those words, until a kid at church said that to me a few years ago.
I was taken aback. Fortunately, I knew someone who was close to the kid’s parents, so I mentioned the problem to him. I wanted to help, but at that moment, I only had $5 cash on hand — not enough to buy even one meal for the child’s family (well, maybe some packets of ramen). The man I knew said he’d take care of things, and later he let me know that the family would be okay, but I learned a lesson that day.
Always have cash on hand. Not just for your own sake but for the sake of others.
Since then, I’ve made a point of having $20 cash with me specifically to use on others. I keep it separate from any other money I might happen to have, so I don’t spend it accidentally.
$20 isn’t much, but with it you can:
- Buy lunch for a family in need.
- Give a generous tip to a busker or your barista.
- Help someone on the street who asks you for money, if you feel comfortable giving them cash.
- Drop money into a collection box for a charity you know.
- Pay for the person ahead of you in a checkout line if they’re a little short. (Confession: The one time I did this, it was because I was in a hurry and was tired of waiting for the lady in front of me as she searched through her purse for change. Her sincere gratitude made me feel guilty about my motivation.)
Today, consider setting some money aside — perhaps $20, or perhaps a little more or less than that — to use in those situations when you’d prefer to, or have to, give cash. It feels good when you encounter someone in need and are prepared to help.