(Inside: Small budget, big heart. Explore easy and meaningful ways to show kindness, give back, and love others well every day.)
In spring 2021, our house was struck by lightning. Unfortunately, this resulted in a complete melting (this is not an exaggeration—the components literally melted!) of the inside of our electric panel in our home. The veteran electrician had never seen anything like it before and was amazed that our home didn’t catch fire. As you might guess, this was a costly repair, amounting to over $4,000. When our sweet next-door neighbors spotted the electrician’s van in our driveway, they didn’t hesitate to bless us with a huge gift of $500 to help with our repair — the exact amount owed after insurance! This stands as one of the largest acts of kindness we have ever experienced.
But that one instance isn’t the only way we’ve been blessed. We’ve been fed countless times, both as young college students sent home with leftovers and as new parents with hot meals delivered to our door. From small acts of kindness, such as a warm meal, to large financial blessings, each act of kindness made us feel deeply cared for by our community.
When was the last time you received a kind note, a warm coffee, or an outpouring of support? How did it change your day? Big or small, there are ways to show kindness that fits into everyone’s budget. Here are some of my favorite ways to be kind on a budget!
Kindness on a budget
Encouraging others is something that I personally strive to do often. Most of the time, I do this by sharing an encouraging word (or happy dance!), but sometimes my heart is pulled to do more to tangibly impact someone’s day. Here are a few ideas that you can easily replicate on a small budget!
1. Host a small get-together
This fall, I was inspired by an Instagram post to host other young moms in my home on a monthly basis for coffee and bagels. I love a good party theme and a chance to craft, so I decided to invite others to join in! I kept this gathering budget-friendly by serving homemade coffee and bagels from Aldi, paired with a quick and inexpensive craft! I even DIY’d some decorations.
Now, you don’t have to be super creative to host your own gathering! By just opening up your home to others, you foster connection and community! Keep it simple by hosting a morning coffee group or a murder mystery party, and invite others to bring snacks! I’ve hosted a whodunit murder mystery party with my church small group, and it was a hit for the $15 it cost for the printable game!
2. Participate (or organize) a meal train.
Back in the day, a funeral might prompt the church ladies to bring over a pan of cornflake-crusted potatoes or lasagna. Nowadays, a coordinated effort termed a “meal train” provides an easy way to have friends near or far provide meals to someone when they are grieving, ill, or welcoming a new baby into their home. It’s not just a local word-of-mouth system either; it’s also an easy website where you can simply email or text your friends to sign up for specific time slots or send gift cards for food delivery. It’s easy to set up and easy to participate in! A warm meal delivered straight to your door when you need it most can be invaluable and something you didn’t even know you needed until it arrived wrapped in tin foil.
3. Create a sunshine bag
Sometimes, life just sucks, and there isn’t much you can do to make it better. Whether it is a close friend or a coworker who is going through a hard time, a fun way to brighten someone’s day is by creating a sunshine bag! A sunshine bag is a small gift that is completely themed with yellow items, providing a little “sunshine” for their day! To create this, head over to the dollar store and pick out a yellow gift bag and a few of your friend’s favorite items that are yellow in color. You can include snacks like Peanut M&Ms or Lays chips, knick-knacks like a smiley-face stress ball, or practical items like sticky notes, hand soap, or a candle. Once you’ve shopped for a few items, be sure to create a cute gift tag for the outside!
It won’t change their circumstances, but it will let them know that you are thinking of them and remind them they are not alone in their struggles.
Kindness as currency
Sometimes, even a $5 pay-it-forward isn’t in the budget. But, you do have two hands and a full heart! Consider spreading kindness by serving others with your time instead of your finances. A few ideas might involve:
- Volunteering at a local community organization
- Running errands for new parents or seniors
- Verbally complimenting or thoughtfully leaving notes for strangers
- Mailing an uplifting letter or sending an encouraging text
- Visiting and chatting with the elderly at a nursing home
Take the kindness challenge
I love the phrase “throw kindness around like confetti,” as it creates an instant visual reminder to be kind in multiple ways. Whether that is by blessing others by meeting a physical or financial need, there’s always room for more smiles and kindness.
To get the whole family involved, I’ve put together a 30-day kindness challenge as part of our free Kindness-on-a-Budget kit to encourage you and your family to get out and share a smile. Head over to the Free Resource Library to download the kindness kit and leave your favorite way you’ve shown kindness in the comments.
