When you finally get a job and you open that first wage packet, there is nothing better than looking at the amount you’ve worked for. As a student not having to pay tax or national insurance makes it a hell of a lot better. Since the age of 16 I’ve worked in Sainsburys and have LOVED pay day every four weeks. I always wander round the shops picking out my pay day purchases, I sometimes don’t think about things before I buy them but surely because I’ve worked hard for them my money should be to treat myself?

However when I was a little girl I always insisted to my Mum that I NEEDED to give some money to anyone that was holding a charity tin. I was never a child that hated that my Mum gave me money to put in. I LOVED the feeling that I was helping someone else. This carried on up until about two years ago, every Friday on my way to college I would donate atleast 30p to Little old man from The Samaritan’s  just because I thought he looked adorable in his uniform. In return I’d get a free paper that I’d throw into the bin a few hundred yards away from him.

During the recession, charity isn’t at the forefront of everyones mind. I know it hasn’t been at mine. I’ll even be the first to admit that these days when I’m approached by someone in the street to try and get me to donate money to any charity I’ll tell them that I already donate to their charity. What I don’t know is where I began to think that I didn’t want to donate my money, where I became selfish and decided that all my money was infact for just me.

Now I’m not going to claim that I’m a millionaire or I’m a brilliant saver but would 50p every now and again really hurt my pocket? I manage to spend atleast £20 on hot chocolates from coffee companies every month and sometimes a few more when I walk past the Costa in the train station.  If I cut back on the hot chocolates that I could make myself at home for alot less I could save that money.

While a friend of mine recently longed to have longer hair she spotted some Jessica Simpson hair extentions, as she got closer to the window to have a look to see how much they were she saw a woman inside being fitted for a wig, she needed a wig because she’d had chemotherapy.

Wanting to have longer hair quicker isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but my friend realised that she should be greatful for having any hair whatsoever.

Were all guilty of thinking similar things to this whether its wanting a new phone, buying new clothes or things we don’t really need.

At the age of 18 I learnt that I’d been living with a lymphatic malformation. I’d never previously heard of the condition and there wasn’t alot of research that had been done within the UK. I instantly wanted to do something. I arranged a bagpack at work and alot of people said they would help. That same bank holiday there was a music festival in Newcastle. Suddenly the tables turned. I had 5 people helping me only one of which stayed all day. I thought I’d made around £50 however I made £300 for research into the condition. I can tell you not many people like having their bags packed but even by doing a small favour you could help to change someones opinion or atleast raise a little bit of money for a good cause.

I don’t want to sound like I’m preaching to you that you should go and give away all the money you earn or you should even give up your coffee’s. I know that I won’t be giving them up anytime soon. But next time that I think that I want something I’m going to think about how much I really need it. I’m also going to think about others that could benefit better from a small donation rather than me buying yet another hot chocolate.

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