Like many higher earners, Kwasi Kwarteng has just given me a pay rise as a result of the changes to National Insurance. I’ve just been made £843 a year better off as a result of tax cuts, at a time when the lowest paid are struggling to survive with the increasing cost of living.
If you’ve also just got wealthier through none of your own effort or need, here’s how you can spend your money to benefit people and businesses who need it more:
- Buy all your Christmas presents (and anything else you need) through the social supermarket, where you can access all sorts of products (from gifts to clothes to food) that are using profits generated for social or environmental value: https://www.socialsupermarket.org/
- Go on a shopping spree in charity shops; but offer to pay for the item what you’d pay for it new
- Offer to pay £843 in advance at your local independent pub or coffee to support their cash flow, and get free beers or coffee until your money runs out
- Support local independent bookshops by shopping here at https://uk.bookshop.org/
- Become a member of House of St Barnabas or gift a membership to someone else. Or host a party or event at our venue. You will help break the cycle of homelessness for our participants for the long term.
All the above also offer a return to you. The other option of course is just to give it away to one of the thousands of UK charities making a huge difference for individuals in poverty or ask your local gym, hairdresser or other services about paying it forward for someone else. Banquet (founded by a House of St Barnabas member) makes it easy for you to donate what is needed to a local food bank. https://www.bankuet.co.uk/.
Or you can make a regular donation to us at House of St Barnabas here: /