Why I’m Not Sending Cash to Haiti-Yet

January 30th, 2010 | by admin |

from www.freedigitalphotos.net

For three days, I’ve drafted and re-drafted this post. How to not sound like a cold-hearted, calloused individual. The fact of the matter is, I’m a huge giver. More than once I’ve mortgaged myself to the hilt to give to others in need, always figuring I still have good earning potential, so I’ll make up for shorting my own financial progress later. I put colossal charitable contributions on credit cards. I’ve maintained giving even when my own budget was hazardous at best.

One year I received a large Christmas bonus. I planned to (for once) do my holiday shopping in cash. Then I heard about someone near to me who would be evicted with her children the week before Christmas if they couldn’t pay rent. The notice had already come and they were packing up.

My bonus was the exact same size as their rent payment. I paid the rent and never told anyone until today. I did my Christmas shopping that year on plastic. My friend was evicted the following month. I imagine that Christmas debt is still part of what I’m paying off.

We adopted our kids with credit (Hey, if it is for their benefit, it’s “good” debt, right? That’s what I told myself at the time. Looking back we could have covered our legal fees with a second job or fund-raising or searching for adoption grants.)

After Financial Peace University, we seriously re-evaluated our giving and elected to stick to a planned giving schedule. We planned and budgeted for all of our charitable giving for 2010 back in December, before Haiti’s earthquake. (Lesson #1—plan extra next year as a “discretionary” amount).

I watched the news and the telethon with big tears in my eyes. Many of my friends’ adopted children are Haitian, and through our contacts with adoption agencies, we keep up with some of the orphanages there—especially those caring for children with HIV and AIDS, as that’s a cause that is very important to our family.

I asked my husband in our budget meeting if we could send more. He reminded me what we learned in class – that we cannot sacrifice the security of our family for others.

Here is where we’re apt to disagree. Personally, I don’t see debt as “peril” in comparison to the dire circumstances that others are—but he does. “We’ll give like crazy people if you want” he told me “after the debt is paid.” Likewise on my planned mission trips—to build an orphanage and school in Africa. “Not until our life, and our childrens’ security are assured. No debt, medical savings, and education savings—and then give/do whatever you want for whomever you want.

It breaks my heart, but my mind does know he’s right. We sent a small token contribution to Haiti, and then sent all of our airline miles (hey, we’re not traveling anytime soon) to Medical Teams International who will have medical teams in Haiti for the next five years. (If you have Alaska miles you can make a charitable transfer for free). It doesn’t feel like enough to me, and I feel like a wretched human being for not doing more.

When we’re debt free and have built our emergency funds though, we will be planning in some funds for Haiti’s recovery. We should be ready early next year—and by then, Haiti will likely be out of the limelight and in need of additional funds for rebuilding.

Dear readers, I welcome your thoughts on this—even if you think I’m wrong.

Is it OK to justify debt? Is it OK to borrow for a “good cause”?

Do you find yourself classifying your debt into “good” and “bad?”

Perhaps the hardest one justification for me is “helping” others. I’m a helper by nature, but part of our Financial Peace University commitment to stick to our budget is really straining me right now. I put a sticky note in my wallet with the scripture from the lesson in FPU to make me think before I write a check– “But if anyone does not provide for his own, especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

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