There are mixers, speed-dating and on-line dating, and now there is dating to help aid a local charity.  Here is how to find a dating organization that will support a cause you love.

Single Volunteers. There a lots of organizations around the world that bring singles together in a volunteer . . . → Read More: Wednesday’s Spicy Morsels: Dating for Charity]]> Contributed by Ted K.

There are mixers, speed-dating and on-line dating, and now there is dating to help aid a local charity.  Here is how to find a dating organization that will support a cause you love.

Single Volunteers. There a lots of organizations around the world that bring singles together in a volunteer setting.  In these events you can bond with others who share the same passion as you.  In a low-key setting that emphasizes what you are doing instead of what you are wearing, you can meet new people and get to know them.  Even if you do not meet anyone special the first time, you will leave with a sense of joy just from being of service.

Meetup.   Meetup is a great website to find groups of people who are interested in your passions.  I was able to find events from New York  to Seattle by just typing in “singles charities.”

Speed dating.  Many different speed dating events will give a portion of their registration fee to a charitable cause.  They are held all over the world and a simple Google search will turn up some in your area.

Charity auctions.  Some charities will auction off dates with celebrities and prominent members of society for a cause.  While this is usually a one-time thing it is a great way to get to meet people who are like-minded. If you don’t win a date, you might meet someone there.

Creating your own date.  While it may not work for a first date, you can always arrange a date with your partner to do something charitable. If you know your partner is passionate about a specific cause, you can plan a date supporting the cause.  Doing something charitable together will help bring you closer together and forge some intimacy.  Plus it shows your partner that you support them and their passions.

Do you have any ideas for a charity date?

. . . → Read More: W. Clement Stone]]> “You always do what you want to do. This is true with every act. You may say that you had to do something, or that you were forced to, but actually, whatever you do, you do by choice. Only you have the power to choose for yourself.”

Staying in shape is good for our health but it can also be good for others.  There are lots of charities out there that are linked to your exercise activities, weight loss and healthy eating.

Donating to a charity makes me feel better.  I can support my favorite cause and know that I am doing some good.  When I give to a charity I expect that most of my money goes towards the cause, but after a recent donation to a new charity, . . . → Read More: Monday’s Financial Feast: How To Value-Check Before Donating]]> Contributed by Jessie F

Donating to a charity makes me feel better.  I can support my favorite cause and know that I am doing some good.  When I give to a charity I expect that most of my money goes towards the cause, but after a recent donation to a new charity, my friend told me that the charity I donated to gives only 20% to the cause and 80% on fundraising and administration fees.

I felt cheated and wanted to figure out how I can prevent this from happening again.    In order to be considered not-for-profit, an organization needs to file a Form 990 with the IRS.  The Statement of Revenue section breaks down how the charity spends its money.  This is often found on the charities website but some charities do not list them.  By law, they are required to give you a copy if you ask them for it.

There are several organizations that do all of this work for you.  Guidestar and Charity Navigator break down the cost, post reviews and let you know pertinent details about the charity.

You can also check out the Better Business Bureau’s rating of a charity.  They have 23 different standards for a charity to be successful and they are the first contact when someone is scammed.  The website can be difficult to navigate so if you have trouble, give your local BBB office a call.

Be sure to check out your favorite charities before you donate and see how they rate.

. . . → Read More: Doc Childre]]> “We have to become more conscious of our feeling-world. By learning to identify the ‘emotional baggage’ and manage our feeling-world reactions, we can view life based on current information instead of being held captive by our past.”

I love to travel. Whenever I have vacation time I travel and, even when I don’t have official vacation days, I take weekend trips to new places. Then one year, I was on vacation when a bird pooped on me.  A nice stranger came over and dried me off with . . . → Read More: Friday’s Culture Casserole: How To Be a Savvy Tourist]]> Contributed by Morgan N.

I love to travel. Whenever I have vacation time I travel and, even when I don’t have official vacation days, I take weekend trips to new places. Then one year, I was on vacation when a bird pooped on me.  A nice stranger came over and dried me off with a towel.  He also helped himself to my wallet, credit cards and passport! I ended up spending much of my vacation at the police station, the embassy and most of my time crying.  The police told me it was a common scam and while talking to them, I found out about some other scams as well.

• Fake police.  You are busy driving down the street and the police stop you, claiming you have committed some type of crime.  They tell you that paying them right then and there will make the whole thing go away. Instead, tell them you would like to go to the police station.  They will most likely want to forget the whole thing and let you go with a warning.  However, be sure to pull over where there are other people around or pull into a gas station.

• Taxis.  There are so many scams involving taxis.  They can drive you all around town and take the long route to boost their fare. For this scam, be sure to settle on a fee beforehand.  They might also tell you that your hotel or restaurant is closed and they have a better place for you to go to.  Insist on going to your choice to check if it is still open.  They may be taking you to their friends place so they can earn a commission.

• Hotel scam.  This time the taxi driver takes you to a hotel with a name that is similar to your chosen hotel.  They ask you to prepay and offer you lots of tours for a fee.  You are tired and sign right up, only to realize later that it’s not even the hotel you chose.  Be sure to check the address of the hotel and make sure it is the correct one. Leave if it is not.

• Scooters/vespas. Oh the fun of driving a scooter around town! But then it breaks down. You have to return it to the rental place and they say it is your fault and you will have to pay for repairs.  The bill is likely to be inflated and you will be paying for a scooter that was rigged to break down.  Another popular scam is renting you a lock and key for the scooter.  After you park the scooter, one of the employees unlocks the scooter steals it. Now, you have to pay for a replacement scooter.  Take you own lock and key to avoid this scam.

Have you ever been taken in by a scam while on vacation?  Share with your soul-mates to help prevent it from happening again.

]]> “My mission in life is not merely to survive; but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.”

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