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Busy moms are always putting others’ needs ahead of their own. And when it comes to donating, they may have the best intentions in the world. But busy moms are just that – busy.

While you may have good intentions to donate, especially during the holidays, dragging your family around town to make donations that stretch your already limited budget doesn’t sound like fun.

There has to be a better way to donate and spread some cheer to others. And there is.

How to Donate Without Breaking the Bank (or the Clock)

These are some super simple (and frugal) ways to show you care. Especially around the holidays, try one of these to donate your time, talent, or treasures!

Schedule Pick-Ups to Donate Clothes and Household Items

I recently read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, which really inspired me to start decluttering (read my full review here). That said, after starting with my closet, I already had four bags of clothes to donate.

I don’t know about you, but just the thought of dragging my two kids along with four heavy garbage bags of clothes to Goodwill is stressful.

However, there are organizations such as DonateStuff.com that pick up donations in your area. You type in your zip code and then schedule a pickup based on when an organization is picking up items in your area. On the day of pick-up, you simply place your donations on your front porch. A truck will come pick them up on your scheduled day.

Simplified donating at its finest!

Donate Your Hair

There are many great organizations that accept hair donations, and each one has different requirements.

I recently chose to donate my hair to Children With Hair Loss, which is an organization that provides hair to children at no cost.

Since Children With Hair Loss is headquartered in Michigan (not too far from where I live), my salon saved my hair and donated it for me.

If you are interested in donating your hair, check with your salon to see if they have a local organization that they work with, or check out this list of great organizations.

Automate Your Donations

If you’re like me, you would forget your head if it wasn’t attached to your neck. I can’t tell you how many times I left the check for church on the kitchen table or forgot to mail a donation before the end of the year.

I’ve since taken to donating automatically. I set up donations through my bank’s automatic bill pay, and my bank takes care of mailing the checks on a regular basis.

Many organizations have started offering the option to donate on a regular basis, and they will automatically deduct the funds from your bank or credit card. We’ve started making an annual contribution to our local church diocese, and every December they automatically charge our credit card (I told you I love using my credit card!).

When you automate your donations, you have peace of mind knowing that you’ll make donations regularly, and the organization knows that it’s guaranteed a donation. It’s a win-win situation!

Give a Gift That Matters

There are so many ways to show people that you care and are thinking of them. Especially when people are in need, give a thoughtful gift that does double duty by helping someone while still showing your sentiments.

Instead of sending flowers to a funeral, make a donation to the deceased’s favorite charity. You could also donate to a charity that may have helped the family, such as Hospice, The Cancer Research Institute, or The American Heart Foundation.

Even if you can’t attend the funeral, you can still go to the charity’s website and make a donation in the deceased’s name. The charity will notify the deceased’s family that you made a donation in their honor.

Another great way to support someone with a gift that matters is by donating your time or talent. Deliver a meal to a family that’s struggling (new moms always appreciate this), offer to help out around the house, or do a neighbor’s grocery shopping. It really doesn’t take much extra time to grab a few items for someone on your next shopping trip.

Instead of donating the traditional way, what unique ways do you donate your time, talents, or financial contribution? How have you been able to simplify your donations?

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