"Show me a Man's Budget..."

…and I'll show you his priorities”

Joe Biden said that during one of the Democratic Primary Debates last year, and as a result I immediately knew I liked the guy. His point (if I remember correctly) related to the federal budget, but I believe that it more appropriately applies to each of us individually. What is it that we care most about?

To illustrate this point, just take a minute and examine how much you spend on the following items each month:

1. Rent / mortgage payments
2. Food / Bills
3. Entertainment (alcohol, nice dinners, movie/concert tickets, etc…)
4. High-end electronics
5. A new car
6. Home renovations
7. Clothes / Jewelry
8. Hair, Make-up
9. Credit card interest
10. Retirement Savings
11. Education
12. Charitable Gifts

I don’t know which is worse; that my money is usually gone before I reach #12, or that my priorities are ordered like this.

Blog Action Day seeks to raise awareness about the issue of Poverty, and the various ways in which we personally can take a stand against it. We are all called to do contribute in some ways, it's just a matter of what are all doing about it. Here's just a few ideas, but please leave any further ideas below in the comments section.

Do you love the idea of micro-lending directly to a person in a developing nation so that you can reuse this gift over and over again? Then consider joining a Kiva team, or picking a project on your own at kiva.org:

Or as wrote about last week, if you consider our government’s approach to funding our public school system to be a travesty, then consider giving money directly to teachers who know how best to use the money:

Do you love to shop online? Well try this company out, and let your consumer spending reward those in need:

Or maybe you lack the financial resources, but have a heart for those less fortunate? Consider joining Big Brothers / Big Sister and make a direct impact on the life of a child: