No Money for the Collection

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Melodeonist

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I don’t have a job, and I am too busy to get one (I’m in college.) The only money I have is from gifts, but I don’t want to have to use that money for the collection because it is my only spending money I ever have. I could ask my father for money for the basket, but he never has any to give me (he puts it all into stocks and the bank.)

I think that they will give me a membership to the parish, but I think they will have a sheet with what you will give. I can’t give anything at the moment except change, which won’t last two years while I’m in college. What should I do?
 
Melodeonist said:
I don’t have a job, and I am too busy to get one (I’m in college.) The only money I have is from gifts, but I don’t want to have to use that money for the collection because it is my only spending money I ever have. I could ask my father for money for the basket, but he never has any to give me (he puts it all into stocks and the bank.)

I think that they will give me a membership to the parish, but I think they will have a sheet with what you will give. I can’t give anything at the moment except change, which won’t last two years while I’m in college. What should I do?
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Do you ever buy a soda pop? Buy a cheaper one next time and give the change in the basket. This is like an extra sacrifice. Praying for your parish is also a way of supporting it. I too have to set my mind right about how much to give in the basket. Since I think I could and should give a little more than I currently do.
 
Melodeonist said:
I don’t have a job, and I am too busy to get one (I’m in college.) The only money I have is from gifts, but I don’t want to have to use that money for the collection because it is my only spending money I ever have. I could ask my father for money for the basket, but he never has any to give me (he puts it all into stocks and the bank.)
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Make a budget with three categories: spend, save, share. The share money goes to charity/the parish. The spend money goes into your pocket. The save money goes into a small savings account.

You need to start learning to budget your money. it doesn’t have to be a lot in each category. Say you got $50 for your birthday. Put $5 in the give category, $5 in the save category, and $40 in the spend category. This is just an example.

When you have a job, you will think you don’t have enough money. So it’ a good habit to get into that you put money in these three categories, and then live within your “spend” category. When you have bills of your own, “spend” will then be subdivided into all our various must-pay bills and your “fun” money.
Melodeonist said:
I think that they will give me a membership to the parish, but I think they will have a sheet with what you will give.
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You are a member of whatever parish you live in. You can attend any other parish you wish. You can register at any parish you’d like.

I’ve never seen any registration that asks for how much you will give. but if so, leave it blank if you don’t know.
 
1ke said:
Make a budget with three categories: spend, save, share. The share money goes to charity/the parish. The spend money goes into your pocket. The save money goes into a small savings account.

You need to start learning to budget your money. it doesn’t have to be a lot in each category. Say you got $50 for your birthday. Put $5 in the give category, $5 in the save category, and $40 in the spend category. This is just an example.

When you have a job, you will think you don’t have enough money. So it’ a good habit to get into that you put money in these three categories, and then live within your “spend” category. When you have bills of your own, “spend” will then be subdivided into all our various must-pay bills and your “fun” money.

You are a member of whatever parish you live in. You can attend any other parish you wish. You can register at any parish you’d like.

I’ve never seen any registration that asks for how much you will give. but if so, leave it blank if you don’t know.
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That’s a good idea. If I put a dime in the basket each week, then I can give around $5.50 a year. That would work out, because I would probably get money again for my next birthday.

Putting money extra in the bank is a good idea too. 🙂
 
Try seving as an usher, or maybe stay at school for a few days over break to do some charity work. Being catholic is more about helping the needy than dropping the dime in the basket! Might also make some good contacts for your post college days!
 
Agree, try offering some time. Of course, maybe you don’t have a vast amount of time, so do something within the context of the Mass (server, choir, play an instrument etc.), give time rather than money.
 
I have been really broke the past 8 years so my donations have been sporadic. I give when I can and give extra when I have extra. they will not deny you a membership to the parish because you are a poor student. I volunteer and do other jobs to help out.
 
Give what you can, even it is only a quarter each Mass. I agree with the others who mentioned volunteering your time at the parish. You could be an altar server, lector, usher, etc.
 
Spend, save, share should be reversed…of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, almsgiving is the best.

You will be surprised how when you think you can’t afford to give first, how seldom giving first will ever hurt your abilities to meet your needs or your obligations.

PEACE AND ALL GOOD!
 
No parish will ask how much you can give.

Don’t fret. There are plenty of people who don’t put anything in the basket. Some give monthly via online giving, others just don’t have it. They volunteer. They give of themselves to that the parish doesn’t have to pay for every little thing. You like music…join the choir. I’m sure they could use someone to go to the office and fill the music binders, fold sheets, file sheet music. Even something as simple as setting up the music stands and putting out the music can be a real blessing fro the Music Director, I know from experience. Help them take attendance at Sunday School. Help in the kitchen. Help serve the coffee and donuts.
Be prepared to fill out the Safe Environment Volunteer forms and Virtus class or whatever your Diocese has in place for screening volunteers.
Good luck.
As people have said…even a dollar is welcome. I’ve seen people turn their change purses inside out and no one give them the side eye.
 
You only have to give what you can, if you are in a position where you can’t donate money that’s fine. Don’t worry about it too much. I’m a college student too with no money and I attend church every Sunday.
 
they are happy to see your body at church and that you are taking care of your soul.
 
While volunteering is good, I don’t really have that much time on my hands as I often have lots of homework from college. Some weeks I have more free time than others.

I do pray the rosary with a group at the church every first Tuesday. Does this count?
 
Melodeonist said:
While volunteering is good, I don’t really have that much time on my hands as I often have lots of homework from college. Some weeks I have more free time than others.

I do pray the rosary with a group at the church every first Tuesday. Does this count?
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Of course. Praying for others is a Corporal Work of Mercy.
You could be an usher at Mass. Since you’re there anyway. 🤷
 
Melodeonist said:
I don’t have a job, and I am too busy to get one (I’m in college.) The only money I have is from gifts, but I don’t want to have to use that money for the collection because it is my only spending money I ever have. I could ask my father for money for the basket, but he never has any to give me (he puts it all into stocks and the bank.)

I think that they will give me a membership to the parish, but I think they will have a sheet with what you will give. I can’t give anything at the moment except change, which won’t last two years while I’m in college. What should I do?
Click to expand...
You are a college student and you don’t have at least a part-time job to help with your expenses because you don’t have time??? :rolleyes: That is how I paid my way through college- working part-time during the school year and full-time during the summers saving every bit of it to pay for my expenses. I certainly did not blow it on clothes, parties, etc. I don’t know whether or not you have a good reason for not getting a job, but I don’t believe the excuse that you don’t have time. At least try!

Anyway, your parish is not going to hand you a paper and tell you what you need to give. The paper with the suggested donation amount that is given out one time each year is to help people to decide what their tithe will be. It is just a guide not a contract that is forced upon us. We make the decision of what our donation will be because only we know what our situation is. If you don’t have an income, then obviously there is no way that you can donate money. Yes, you can pray for your parish. That is a good thing to do.
 
Plus, don’t make the mistake in believing that everyone else give major bux to the Church.
Wish they did. We could repair some things around the place…:compcoff:

Srsly…only 20% of members tend to give the money that truly pays the expenses of a parish. 😊

And many parishioners are just plain poor. They give what they can, or they volunteer.
 
zab said:
You are a college student and you don’t have at least a part-time job to help with your expenses because you don’t have time??? :rolleyes: That is how I paid my way through college- working part-time during the school year and full-time during the summers saving every bit of it to pay for my expenses. I certainly did not blow it on clothes, parties, etc. I don’t know whether or not you have a good reason for not getting a job, but I don’t believe the excuse that you don’t have time. At least try!

Anyway, your parish is not going to hand you a paper and tell you what you need to give. The paper with the suggested donation amount that is given out one time each year is to help people to decide what their tithe will be. It is just a guide not a contract that is forced upon us. We make the decision of what our donation will be because only we know what our situation is. If you don’t have an income, then obviously there is no way that you can donate money. Yes, you can pray for your parish. That is a good thing to do.
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The reason I don’t apply for jobs is because I want to focus all my time on college so I get good grades. I don’t want to put my small about of free time into a job, but rather into my hobbies. 🙂
 
Melodeonist said:
The reason I don’t apply for jobs is because I want to focus all my time on college so I get good grades. I don’t want to put my small about of free time into a job, but rather into my hobbies. 🙂
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do you get paid for playing the accordion or is that simply a hobby?
 
7_Sorrows said:
do you get paid for playing the accordion or is that simply a hobby?
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For now it’s simply a hobby. However, I know someone at the accordion association who said that he might be able to help me find places to play for cash. Another way I can make money with the accordion is by busking, but I don’t know if that’s legal.
 
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