If your lifestyle allows for the occasional random act of kindness, you already know some of the most popular acts. Many ideas go viral on social media and give fresh ideas about how they can help others. Recently, the biggest news about good deeds has highlighted customers who leave outside tips for deserving restaurant workers. Other people give their used cars to charity, pay for someone’s groceries, offer free tutoring services, or cosign on a youngster’s college loan. Of course, there are hundreds of ways to make life a little better for those who are facing difficulties. Consider the following good deeds to get some ideas about how to be of service to others.
Leaving Large Tips
You’ve probably seen one or more of the viral stories about diners who leave $100 or more to hard-working servers. There’s no need to be that generous unless you can afford it, but tipping a bit extra is a straightforward act that can assist someone who appears to be struggling to pay living expenses. In standard restaurants, the regular gratuity amount is 15% for excellent service. If you eat in an establishment where you know the help receives less than minimum wage, think about leaving 20-30% if your budget allows. Those who toil as restaurant servers tend to be college students and young single adults who can use every penny of an above-average tip you leave for them.
Cosigning on a College Loan
If you choose to help someone, even your own child, obtain a college loan by serving as a cosigner, it’s imperative to learn how the process works. Most situations where students ask someone to help them get approved for a private loan involve parents and their college-age children. Why do they ask? First, federal loan programs are excellent but come with caps of $5,500 annually for the first year of schooling. In many cases, that’s not nearly enough to cover tuition, board, room, and fees.
Luckily, there are private resources available. The catch is that private lenders prefer borrowers who have solid credit scores, which rules out 99% of teenagers. When your child needs additional funding for college but lacks the financial history or credit rating to get over the finish line, your signature can get the job done and assist with covering educational expenses in full. Be sure to review a complete guide that shows how to cosign for a child who’s getting ready to attend a four-year degree program.
Giving Away a Used Car
There are two ways to donate a used car to someone in need. The most common way is to contact a reputable charity that specializes in matching cars with people who desperately need transportation. However, large organizations don’t always do a great job of repairing vehicles and getting them to needy people quickly. Another way to donate is to contact a local religious community and ask if they know of someone who needs a car. Don’t forget to keep detailed records of the vehicle’s current market value before you donate it. At tax time, a substantial charitable donation can significantly affect the amount you owe or receive as a refund. Check with an accounting professional for advice about how to record the transaction and include it on your annual filing documents.
Being a Volunteer Tutor
If your idea of making the community a better place, consider signing up through a local volunteer agency to be a tutor. There are needs in several areas, including remedial reading, adult literacy, basic math, English as a second language, and more. Most municipal service organizations try to find instructors who can commit to teaching two or more evenings per week for a few hours per session. Ideally, volunteers can stay on the job for at least a year, which gives the program a measure of stability and continuity. Don’t worry if you’ve never taught before. All programs offer complete training to new tutors and provide a full set of texts and materials.
