Myanmar

I know I am not the only one who is saddened by the recent disaster in Myanmar... and the government's unwillingness to accept outside help (though I'm glad to hear that planes with food landed yesterday... finally!). The church has a website that you can go to to donate directly to the cause. Click here to find out what the church is doing to help and how to donate.

To my husband and me, this is a huge part of our financial planning. We are still students (and will be for another 4 years) and so though our funds are limited, it is super important to us to donate to humanitarian aid. Our financial guide is Jacob 2:17-19-

17 Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.
(Book of Mormon Jacob 2:17 - 19)

I remember reading an Ensign article a few months back that encouraged us to pay our Fast Offering ... even if we can do no more than contribute the price of a few eggs.

It's amazing to me how the Lord's ways are clearly not the world's ways. The world teaches that if you want to be rich, you have to keep all your money to yourself. The Lord teaches to share that money with others, and then we will be rich. Of course, rich spiritually, but also temporally we will never be without.

Of course, all things in wisdom and order. You obviously can't deny food for your family to give food to someone else on the other side of the world. This isn't necessarily a "money saving" tip, but I view the principle of charitable giving and the doctrine of caring for our brothers and sisters key to our (Michael's and my) financial stability.