I give ~1% (gross income) to my synagogue
and slightly less than 1% to other charitable causes.

Was able to max my 403b last year but did not max out Roth.

This year because of anticipated childcare expenses I doubt I will even be able to max out the 403b but am determined to contribute enough for full employer match.

$118 dollars in 529 (pathetic - I know (just starting though) but I doubt it will see significant contributions until I am able to max out retirement.)

Never take a vacation (the last one I took my mother gifted me the room & board for my birthday.) Eat out a couple times a year.

25K rainy day fund.

I really struggle with the trade off between giving more to charity/synagogue and saving for retirement/college. Also with an expense that enhances quality of life but isn't strictly necessary (even if I eliminated this though still far away from 10%) Still I think it is important to give and 10% is a good goal. There is some debate in my religion to what extent taxes should count towards giving so I take some comfort in that.

Anonymous wrote:We aim for 10% on the nose, but we do net income, not gross. So, 10% of our take home pay. And even then we are often falling short these days between childcare and a fairly new mortgage - we're at more like 8% right now.

I think it's actually really good - it's so easy to be constantly thinking about more, more, how you don't have enough to make ends meet and the truth is - everyone feels that way, even people who make a million dollars. Your wants will always exceed your means, and they will feel reasonable and borderline like needs. Having a charity line item helps focus on gratitude for what you have, that others do not.

Absolutely, giving to the church and charitable organizations helps your perspective and actually helps to balance the wants/needs. You become less likely to go into debt when giving.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We aim for 10% on the nose, but we do net income, not gross. So, 10% of our take home pay. And even then we are often falling short these days between childcare and a fairly new mortgage - we're at more like 8% right now.

I think it's actually really good - it's so easy to be constantly thinking about more, more, how you don't have enough to make ends meet and the truth is - everyone feels that way, even people who make a million dollars. Your wants will always exceed your means, and they will feel reasonable and borderline like needs. Having a charity line item helps focus on gratitude for what you have, that others do not.

Oh, I'm sorry, PP here. I misread your questions, just realized you specified giving to your religious home. Almost all our giving is to regular charities, not religious based.

I think OP is asking about both.

Anonymous wrote:We aim for 10% on the nose, but we do net income, not gross. So, 10% of our take home pay. And even then we are often falling short these days between childcare and a fairly new mortgage - we're at more like 8% right now.

I think it's actually really good - it's so easy to be constantly thinking about more, more, how you don't have enough to make ends meet and the truth is - everyone feels that way, even people who make a million dollars. Your wants will always exceed your means, and they will feel reasonable and borderline like needs. Having a charity line item helps focus on gratitude for what you have, that others do not.

Oh, I'm sorry, PP here. I misread your questions, just realized you specified giving to your religious home. Almost all our giving is to regular charities, not religious based.

We aim for 10% on the nose, but we do net income, not gross. So, 10% of our take home pay. And even then we are often falling short these days between childcare and a fairly new mortgage - we're at more like 8% right now.

I think it's actually really good - it's so easy to be constantly thinking about more, more, how you don't have enough to make ends meet and the truth is - everyone feels that way, even people who make a million dollars. Your wants will always exceed your means, and they will feel reasonable and borderline like needs. Having a charity line item helps focus on gratitude for what you have, that others do not.

Anonymous wrote:DH and I donate 10% of our AGI to church each year* and make much smaller contributions to secular charities. Our retirement and college savings are excellent. We expect to retire before age 50. We have always been really frugal and have always given a good amount to church.

Christians are commanded to support the Church according to the Bible, but I don't believe you have to give 10% of your AGI. Give as you feel called. I think that "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" is both descriptive and prescriptive. You care more about the Church when you have money "invested" in it and it is true. Worldly bonus is that you have to get your finances in order to do this well, but the truth is it will drag down your savings.

*Since the TCJA we actually just donate 20% every other year.

Want to add: giving has been harder for me the last few years because I think much of the Church in the U.S. has a spiritual sickness that looks alot like a political cult. I give as an act of faith that G-d will use these present difficult (INSANE) times for his good anyway.

Anonymous wrote:DH and I donate 10% of our AGI to church each year* and make much smaller contributions to secular charities. Our retirement and college savings are excellent. We expect to retire before age 50. We have always been really frugal and have always given a good amount to church.

Christians are commanded to support the Church according to the Bible, but I don't believe you have to give 10% of your AGI. Give as you feel called. I think that "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" is both descriptive and prescriptive. You care more about the Church when you have money "invested" in it and it is true. Worldly bonus is that you have to get your finances in order to do this well, but the truth is it will drag down your savings.

*Since the TCJA we actually just donate 20% every other year.

Its great to hear someone who does try to live the tithing as commanded in the biblical sense.

(LEV. 27:30–34)
Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord. One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”
Here we see Moses giving the tithe as a law. The first 10 percent is called “holy,” or set apart, as belonging to God. The Israelites were to return to God what was already his, and in doing so, recognize the Almighty’s provision. In this case, since we are no longer agrarian, 10% of your employment is what you tithe 10% on.

DH and I donate 10% of our AGI to church each year* and make much smaller contributions to secular charities. Our retirement and college savings are excellent. We expect to retire before age 50. We have always been really frugal and have always given a good amount to church.

Christians are commanded to support the Church according to the Bible, but I don't believe you have to give 10% of your AGI. Give as you feel called. I think that "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" is both descriptive and prescriptive. You care more about the Church when you have money "invested" in it and it is true. Worldly bonus is that you have to get your finances in order to do this well, but the truth is it will drag down your savings.

*Since the TCJA we actually just donate 20% every other year.

Wow I’m shocked so many people are a bit stingy with their money when it comes to their religious organizations. Churches, temples, etc. need money to run like any other business. Repair Maintenance, salaries, supplies, toiletries, heating/cooling, electronic services all take time and most importantly money. Church is a social community like any other community.

I've struggled with this a lot. I feel called, in a religious sense, to donate 10% to a combination of church and charity, but my family is poor and I have been blessed. So I choose to "count" contributions to my young relatives' college accounts and similar help as "charity." (To be clear, don't mean my own kids.) By that rule we easily clear 10%.

Anonymous wrote:Do you and your spouse donate more than 10% of your combined total income to your church or temple?

And, do you also donate to charities?


For instance, you and DH make $450,000
Tithing: $45,000 or $50,000
Charitable A organizations: $5,000
Charitable B organization: $2,000

How has this impacted both of you in the spiritual, emotional and financial senses?
How are your retirement and educational expenses for your children faring?
How often do you vacation?
What’s your rainy day fund like?


Thank you.

If I were to give that much, yes, it would have an impact on my spiritual, emotional, and financial senses. No doubt.

I don't give to charity. Taking care of my household and child is my first and highest priority.

If I didn't have a mortgage and I had retirement and college handled, I would be more charitable.

We contribute generously to our church and our alma maters and two other worthy causes, but it's not up to tithing. This is a spiritual discipline that has really benefitted me, and I'm passing the save/give/spend model to my children.

I’m shocked to say my DH and I only donate 2% of our income to charity. (Income is about $300K). We are saving, per year, about $40K in retirement accounts, $30K in 529s, and another $30K in brokerage accounts.

So I guess the takeaway is that as there is no comprehensive, generous social safety net, so we don’t feel able to donate to charity because we are looking out for ourselves.

Do you and your spouse donate more than 10% of your combined total income to your church or temple?

And, do you also donate to charities?


For instance, you and DH make $450,000
Tithing: $45,000 or $50,000
Charitable A organizations: $5,000
Charitable B organization: $2,000

How has this impacted both of you in the spiritual, emotional and financial senses?
How are your retirement and educational expenses for your children faring?
How often do you vacation?
What’s your rainy day fund like?


Thank you.