General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI have a question. How do other DUer deal with political donations when you are on fixed income?
How do you decide who to give your money to?
When you donate, how do you keep the one donation from growing to dozens of daily requests via email?
If my wife and I gave just $5.00 to each Democratic who requested a donation. That would become our most significant daily expense.
Do you decide to spend starting in the primaries? Or do you wait and make one larger one in the general election?
Years ago, we donated through Act****, which started the nationwide request from unknown candidates ten years later.
When the dust clears from the primaries, we will donate to state and national runners.
We just made a Star Membership donation to DU.
I believe Omaha Steve raises money here at DU, but I am not quite sure how that works and how that money gets used.
SUGGESTIONS PLEASE.
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)Before I retired we would freely donate to candidates. Now I have to restrain my spouse and remind her that we are no longer enjoying the regular cash inflows from my work, but are instead living off the fixed income for our retirement. It's an adjustment. I am much more likely to agree to donations to our local candidates as they have a much smaller donor base.
no_hypocrisy
(54,926 posts)which can be more valuable than a donation.
usaf-vet
(7,814 posts)FelineOverlord
(3,851 posts)My husband and I donate our TIME.
Text-banking and phone- banking are totally free, lots of fun, and very rewarding.
My husband and I have worked many hundreds of hours texting and phoning in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Postcards to Voters does cost money for the postcards and stamps, but its fun!
We also did door-to-door canvassing in 2018 which cost us the price of gasoline.
yardwork
(69,370 posts)It just bothers me so much. You can do so many other things - volunteer to phone bank, work at the polls, etc.
Polybius
(21,905 posts)In years that I'm doing well, I do.
usonian
(25,393 posts)It's all about people and votes. Arguably one of the volunteer actions listed there will be way more effective than an ad on TV or antisocial media.
There's even stuff for shy people to do, like mailing postcards.
https://democrats.org/
You can skip the "donate" screen if you choose!
OK here's a snippet:
STARTS NOW.
https://democrats.org/take-action/
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vanlassie
(6,248 posts)Is nice, but not necessary. If a major candidate cant cultivate big money, they cant win. Our small donations will not change this. Small donations are nice to do- if you can. But you should never give more than you can afford, and feel good about. Small donations are encouragement- also important as such, to a candidate.
Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)We are blessed not to be on that tight a budget but...even a dollar if enough people give can be significant.
MOMFUDSKI
(7,080 posts)and filled out/mailed postcards for Biden. Went to Obama Headquarters in my city and did envelope stuffing. Did phone calls for Kerry. Volunteer if you cant send $$$
JustAnotherGen
(38,057 posts)As the daughter of a mom on a fixed income?
Come here and post folks you WISH you could donate to. My mom is in good financial circumstances - she's 75 - but all of her grandparents lived into their 90's. I don't want her eating through her retirement income.
My husband became a citizen a few years ago so our donating power has doubled.
Post here - we will donate. Do not put your budget in a bad position.
catrose
(5,365 posts)Having donated to elect Sinema, I don' t feel my limited funds are as necessary as I used to