Giving
One person told me I should only start giving money when I become stinking rich. I think that's not only wrong but counter-productive.

(The issue came up because it looks like my company will get funding - a milestone for me to get a raise. This also means finally being able to pay off the last of my student loans.)

There is no single standard for being "rich". There is however a standard for feeling rich- although it may vary on the person. I don't believe in affirmations - they're things you don't believe and think will be true if you repeat them enough. Sadly, they only reinforce that you don't believe them. It's easier to reconcile the cognitive dissonance of giving $500 to a charity by saying you can afford it. Once the money is gone, it's a fait accompli.

So I am resolving to give 10% of my income. To cement the notion that I have enough, I'll also spend the same percentage on my well-being (and things I consider obscenely luxurious). Right now, those are massage therapy, a private trainer, and a bottle of Pomerol from Clos Beauregard.

Now I know some people will criticize this giving as selfish and somehow impure. That is probably a relic of Judeo-Christian morality, and a very superficial reading of scripture. Tossing coins at a group of starving people to be seen as giving and see them fight over it isn't cool. In any case, no giving can be completely selfless because the self is involved in the giving. But that's no reason not to give.

Besides the trick of forcing myself to feel rich, there's another bit of psychological magic at play. Many people think the current situation is hopeless. Whether that be the environment, society, culture - there are always signs that catastrophe is nigh. Giving money properly forces me to study all the different groups that are doing something. If learning what they are doing isn't enough to turn me into an optimist, giving them money gives me an extra reason to believe their hope is well-founded.

Also hopeful is meeting other people that are involved in work. The incentives offered by the David Suzuki Foundation for those that give $500 or more reminded me that almost all fundraising groups get donors together. Those are certainly wonderful networking opportunities. More importantly, just hanging out with generous, hopeful people is a good way to reinforce those tendencies in ourselves.

I haven't waited for the raise to start giving, although I'm not at 10% quite yet. My goal is to live on 50% of my income, give 10%, spend 10% on luxuries and invest (and/or pay back loans) with the rest. is a lot easier on a professional salary than a startup pay.