Post Reports — "I want to give back! How do I afford it?"
Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Christina Quinn (Try This) with guest Michelle Singletary (Washington Post personal finance columnist)

Episode Overview

This episode is a collaboration between Post Reports and Try This, focusing on the practicalities of charitable giving. Christina Quinn welcomes Michelle Singletary to share how anyone, regardless of income level, can budget for altruism and why integrating giving into your financial plan is so meaningful. The conversation blends personal stories, practical budgeting advice, and actionable tips for making giving—whether money or time—a natural part of everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Everyone Should Consider Charitable Giving

• Personal Motivations and Role Models

  • Michelle’s upbringing by a charitable grandmother ("Big Mama") profoundly shaped her ethos about giving. Raised alongside her siblings after their parents struggled, Michelle says, “My whole existence actually started with charity. My grandmother took me and my siblings in... [Had it not been for her] where would I be?” (03:46)
  • This deep gratitude translates into her encouragement for everyone to build charitable giving into their budgets as both a moral imperative and an act of gratitude.

• Budgeting for Charitable Giving

  • Michelle is a strong proponent of including giving as a fixed line item in the household budget:
    “If you know that a key part of your budget is going to charity, I think that sets a different stage for your budget, and it introduces a level of gratitude.” (06:06)
  • She suggests giving from your “abundance”—after essentials like rent, bills, savings, and food are covered.

Tithing and Percentage-Based Giving

• Explanation of Tithing
  • As a Baptist, Michelle and her husband tithe 10% of their gross income. She clarifies:
    “For my faith... whatever you earn, the first 10%, the fruits of your labor goes to giving, in this case, your local church.” (05:10)
  • Even outside of religious contexts, she encourages others to apply the principle of proportionate giving.

Giving When You Have Debt or Limited Means

• Michelle answers from both a spiritual and a secular perspective:
  • From a faith perspective, she continues tithing even while managing debt, noting it requires more disciplined budgeting.
  • For non-religious listeners or those in tight financial situations, she recommends modest giving—even a few dollars—or donating time instead:
    “Every charity I know will accept whatever you want to give at that level... and if you really don’t have it... you can give of your time.” (08:35)

The Power of Giving Time

• Volunteering as Valuable Altruism

  • Michelle stresses the lifelong value of serving, especially when cash is tight:
    • “I personally think that everybody should have some of their time devoted to giving to a charity or working. And I have believed that since I was a teenager…” (09:54)
  • Example: As a young woman, she visited nursing homes with her dog to provide comfort to residents, highlighting how simple efforts can have real impact.

• Family Involvement

  • Instilling charitable habits in children is a must:
    “If you’ve got children... part of the activities of your children should involve charitable giving, either through their allowance or their time.” (10:49)
  • Christina echoes the importance of normalizing giving for kids:
    “We need to make sure that we take our kids with us when we ... do this so they actually see... this is why.” (11:38)

Where & How to Give

• Finding Charities

  • Even those unaffiliated with religious groups can volunteer or contribute via:
    • Employer-organized giving opportunities
    • Local community groups
    • Simple online searches: “Honestly, you could just Google charitable work and your neighborhood and all kinds of things.” (12:38/13:00)

• Motivations for Giving

  • Whether donating for altruistic reasons, for tax breaks, or even because of social pressure, Michelle notes:
    • “If you wanted to give for the tax break, you know what, go ahead and give... those of us who serve in the community, we’ll take it however we get it. If you give out of guilt, that’s okay.” (14:46, 15:39)

Giving Wisely & Avoiding Scams

• Vetting Charities

  • Only support reputable organizations:
    • “I need you to lead from your heart and your head. So before you give to anybody... check it out.” (15:52)
  • Use resources like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov), BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Watch to vet organizations.
  • Be cautious of unsolicited donation requests, especially via text or email.

• Handling One-Off Requests and GoFundMe

  • Michelle acknowledges the value and risks of platforms like GoFundMe. She suggests supporting such campaigns only if you can confirm their legitimacy.
  • Advice: Build some flexibility into your giving plan for unexpected or one-off charitable requests to avoid feeling overwhelmed or guilted:
    • “If you’ve got a plan... you can say, well, these are the charities that I give to... That way, when people keep coming at you, you can say no and not feel guilty.” (19:09)

Building an Intentional Giving Practice

• Making Giving Part of Your Life

  • Michelle champions treating charitable giving like any other fixed expense:
    “You have things you pay every month for living religiously no matter what. Why not add that to your budget?” (20:40)
  • Regularly review and adjust your charitable plan as your interests or capacities evolve.

• The Deeper Purpose

  • On why to be intentional:
    “When you work in the community... it creates a sense in your soul that I think makes you a better person.” (21:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our parents had a lot of issues, and my grandmother, basically, they were about to send us all off to foster care and split us up. And she said, no, bring them to me... That has always motivated me. I have given to charity from the time that I earn money, either through money or my time.” —Michelle Singletary [03:46]
• “For my husband and I, we tithe to our local church. My husband’s a deacon. I’m not, because, you know, I cuss a lot.” —Michelle Singletary joking about faith and identity [05:01]
• “If you know that a key part of your budget is going to charity... it imposes discipline.” —Michelle Singletary [06:06]
• “Around the holidays everybody says, oh, I want to serve in a soup kitchen, I want to give. But you know what? People hungry all year long, y’all.” —Michelle Singletary [08:02]
• “If you really don’t have it... you can give of your time.” —Michelle Singletary [08:35]
• “Normalize the giving of your time and your money. If they see you do it... they probably will.” —Michelle Singletary on raising charitable kids [12:02]
• “If you give out of guilt, that’s okay with me.” —Michelle Singletary [15:39]
• "Don’t answer any email, text message, anything you see online... Go directly to the source before you give." —Michelle Singletary [15:52]
• “Add a charity, you know, to that... Why not add that to your budget?” —Michelle Singletary [20:40]
• "When you work in the community... it creates a sense in your soul that I think makes you a better person." —Michelle Singletary [21:02]

Key Timestamps

• 02:10: Michelle introduces herself and shares her financial background.
• 03:46: Michelle’s personal story about her grandmother’s influence and motivation to give.
• 05:01–05:10: Tithing and explanation of percentage-based giving.
• 06:06: Budgeting discipline imposed by charitable giving.
• 08:35: Advice for people with debt and alternative ways to give.
• 09:54–10:49: Power and importance of giving your time; family involvement.
• 11:38: Christina and Michelle discuss normalizing giving for children.
• 12:38–13:00: How to find local or relevant charitable opportunities.
• 14:46–15:39: Thoughts on motivations for giving; any reason is valid.
• 15:52–17:42: How to vet charities and avoid scams.
• 17:56–19:09: GoFundMe and handling one-off asks.
• 20:40–21:02: Making giving as integral as a regular expense and the lasting impact of generosity.

Actionable Takeaways

• Integrate charitable giving into your budget—after covering essentials, give from your abundance.
• If you can’t give money, give time; both are valuable to organizations in need.
• Normalize giving for children by involving them in service and modeling generosity.
• Vet charities thoroughly—use tools like FTC.gov, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and Charity Watch. Be wary of unsolicited requests.
• Be intentional and plan your giving year-round, not just during the holidays.
• Stay flexible; allow room to respond to emergent needs without derailing your larger plan.
• Whatever your motivation, your giving matters.

This episode reminds listeners that charitable giving is achievable for almost everyone—by being intentional, disciplined, and wise, you can support your community meaningfully without jeopardizing your financial well-being.