So apparently it’s Cyber Monday. Sounds like another invention by retailers to brainwash us consumers into thinking we need more stuff. As if Black Friday wasn’t enough, now we are pressured to spend money on crap you can buy on the internet. Not that I’m complaining about saving a few bucks. If you know me, you know that I love a deal. But come on…I’m supposed to act like a crazed lunatic on Friday, support my local merchants on Saturday and now spend even more on Cyber Monday? Then on Tuesday I’m supposed to feel guilty about my over consumption and “give back” to my favorite charity. “Giving Tuesday” is an awesome idea but shouldn’t we be doing that already?
Stepping off my soap box before I become overcome.
That being said…before you start clicking…start thinking how awesome it would be if a percentage of your online (and in store) purchases could be donated to the charity of your choice. Start thinking about how awesome it would be if all of your favorite retailers (big name players like Gap, Mac, Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sephora, Lowes and hundreds more) agreed to participate in the same organization that takes care of all of the leg work. Guess what? It’s a reality. Thanks to Pure Charity. Pure Charity is an incredible organization that has gotten all of our favorite retailers on board with donating a percentage of the proceeds to charity. Sign up with Pure Charity, register your credit card, install the browser plug in so that they can keep track of your online purchases and you are off and running. Spending money and doing a good deed at the same time. It a win-win!
Here’s the dumbed down version of how this works: You shop. Retailers give a small percentage of your total bill and it is funneled through Pure Charity so that you can decide which charity you would like to give it to. The money is kept in your giving account where you can keep track of how much you have earned until you are ready to donate it.
I learned about Pure Charity through Jen Hatmaker’s blog. She does a really good job of explaining the whole process. Better than me so check her out if you are so inclined.
Step one: Go to Pure Charity and sign up. <<<= Click here then scroll down to the bottom and click on “Sign Up Now!”
Step two: Register your credit card you will be using to do your holiday shopping and install the browser plug in.
Step three: Search for charities that you would like your purchases to benefit.
Step four: Spread the word.
Just to clarify…the money deposited into your giving account comes from the retailers. If you want to give directly you can donate your own money into your giving account but the idea is to use the power of our shopping dollars combined with the giving power to retailers to make a difference.
On your mark, get set, shop!
Lilly
Such a great idea! Thank you for blogging about this!!
Julie @ Lilacs & Longhorns
Cool idea!