I gave 10% from my high school job and I give 10% now, but I took a break when I first started working because I needed all my earnings just to pay my bills!
I moved in with my partner and got a better job about two years after university, which made me much more financially stable. At that point I started donating 10% again, which was about £175 per month, and I’ve carried on ever since.
I feel grateful to be pretty financially comfortable, so donating 10% doesn’t feel like a hardship—it feels like just another financial commitment, like paying my rent or student loan*. Although I could have used that money for something else, I doubt my life would really be much different if I weren’t donating—I’d probably just be renting a bigger apartment.
*Note: I donated while paying off my student loan. Donating is something I really value and kind of enjoy, and my student loan’s interest rate was only 6%, so I felt able to make this choice. If you’re a bit on the fence about donating and you have a large or expensive student loan, many people would advise you to pay it off before you start donating 10%.
I gave 10% from my high school job and I give 10% now, but I took a break when I first started working because I needed all my earnings just to pay my bills!
I moved in with my partner and got a better job about two years after university, which made me much more financially stable. At that point I started donating 10% again, which was about £175 per month, and I’ve carried on ever since.
I feel grateful to be pretty financially comfortable, so donating 10% doesn’t feel like a hardship—it feels like just another financial commitment, like paying my rent or student loan*. Although I could have used that money for something else, I doubt my life would really be much different if I weren’t donating—I’d probably just be renting a bigger apartment.
*Note: I donated while paying off my student loan. Donating is something I really value and kind of enjoy, and my student loan’s interest rate was only 6%, so I felt able to make this choice. If you’re a bit on the fence about donating and you have a large or expensive student loan, many people would advise you to pay it off before you start donating 10%.