This week I got into a Twitter conversation with @givealittle and @donatenz about this blog and how we needed a New Zealand version - so we’re getting into it. I threw down the challenge to my workmates too – with the proviso that you couldn’t write the same idea as someone else - and we’ll be posting those entries as they’re written.

Dan was up first. Here are my top five ideas for giving without spending money:

One:Contribute art to auctions. I did my degree in Fine Arts and in my spare time I’m a practicing printmaker. Contributing art to charity auctions is a great way to give. Last year I supplied works to Thorndon School’s first art auction (the school that one of my workmate’s children attend) and managed to raise around $700 for them through commission. 

$700 is much more than I’d ever give in one go and I got exposure for my work with a new audience and made enough money to cover framing costs.

Two: Compost. If you’re not composting, start now. It’s easy as. We have a little container under the sink for scraps and then a big compost bin outside – one is a black dalek looking thing and the other is one my husband knocked up from some free wooden pallets he scrounged. As long as you don’t add meat or cheese and keep your compost in a warm place then you can’t really go wrong. If you do, emma [at] ideasshop [dot] co [dot] nz (email me) and I’ll help you. 

Three: Build your community. I live in Featherston, Wairarapa but never knew what was happening in the community because I didn’t have many friends there. So I started a Facebook page. It’s become an online hub for people in our town to share events, meet others, contribute local knowledge and argue about rates. I contribute by dipping in occasionally, answering questions, posting events and making sure it’s all ticking along happily.

Four: Learn to swim. I was 13 when I met my first person who couldn’t swim and now I’m married to one. Learn to swim – it’s an essential skill, most community pools offer adult lessons and far too many Kiwis drown each summer because they’re not being safe in the water.

Five: Be happy. Someone recently advised a friend of mine to do one thing every day that would give them pleasure after they’d done it (e.g. cleaning the kitchen) and one that would give them pleasure while they were doing it. It’s easy to get busy doing life stuff and forget to do something nice for yourself each day. However, if you’re happy then everyone around you wins. My pleasure during task today? Watching New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker of course.