Giving to charity has more benefits than you might think. As well as allowing worthwhile organisations to keep doing their valuable work, the act of making a donation can give the donor a happiness boost. But when you’re ready to open your wallet, there are a few questions to consider – how much should you give, how should you structure your donations, and how do you decide who to give to?
One very good reason to give regularly is that giving can be psychologically good for us. University of Otago professor Stephen Knowles says research suggests pro-social spending, such as giving to charity, lifts happiness more than spending the same sum of money on ourselves. The research also suggests that giving is linked to better health, social connection and feelings of gratitude. This isn’t entirely black and white though –
