With the holidays around the corner, let’s take some time to remember that it’s always more rewarding to give than to take.  Let’s do what we can, right now, today.  Recognize your privilege and give back in some capacity.

We’ve put together a list of random acts of kindness and wanted to share it here this week.  This is by no means an exhaustive list, there are SO many ways to be kind.  We also realize many of the things listed below cannot be completed in this current COVID world.  It’s more of an inspirational list for if/when things become “normal” again.

The past few weeks we really dug into some nitty-gritty personal posts so we wanted to lighten the load this week.  No numbers in today’s post! (Depending on who you are, this could be a good or bad thing hah.)

1. Befriend a lonely person – There’s always that person who tends to prefer to be a loner.  Reach out and offer a helping hand in case they could use it.

2. Introduce yourself to your neighbors – We need to do this now that we moved!  Get to know your neighbors a little more.  Shovel their sidewalk, offer some sugar to help with their holiday baking, or drop off some homemade cinnamon buns.

3. Compliment a stranger – Oo nice hair, lovely accent, fantastic form, you look glowing.  These quick little compliments go a long way.

4. Sing Christmas Carols at a nursing home – Bonus points for bringing homemade cookies and hot cocoa.  Or a little human for everyone to ogle over.

5. Adopt an animal from the pound – Not for everyone, but saving a furry friend will likely be beneficial to both you and the little critter.

6. Donate your talents – Help someone with their finances, cook a meal for an elderly relative, be the DJ for your best friend’s wedding, help a newbie blogger out, etc.

7. Send paper thank you notes – In the world of having everything at your fingertips, take some time to write a handwritten letter and send it out via snail mail.

8. Pay for the coffee, the toll, or the bus fare for the person behind you – It may only be a few bucks, but they will likely tell all their coworkers, family, and friends about this act of kindness all week long.

9. Let the person who seems rushed cut in front of you – Rather than curse and pout, smirk and realize they haven’t quite figured out yet that a simple life is a happy life 😉

10. Hold your tongue – Pause before speaking or writing when you are mad, agitated, or doubtful.

11. Be empathetic – Really try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes.  And actually listen.

12. Be thoughtful – Did your co-worker have a bad day today? Bring her a coffee tomorrow morning.

13. Hold the door open for someone – Make eye contact, give a little nod, show someone that you actually acknowledge them.

14. Play cupid – You know those two people who would totally be great together and they just haven’t met yet? Get them in the same room together (or zoom chat) and let nature take its course.

15. Give your boxes to someone who is moving – We received used moving boxes from our recent move for free and then gave them to someone else for free once we were done.  Reduce, reuse, recycle!!

16. Be thankful – There are SO many things to be thankful for.  Recognize your privilege and know that there are literally BILLIONS of people who wish they were in your shoes.

17. Be encouraging – Have a friend who’s considering launching their our business?  Be their first customer, let others know all about it, let them know they CAN do it.

18. Let people merge-in during traffic – Don’t be that asshole.  Slow down.  There’s really no need to rush.

19. Help people move – If you have the strength, offer up your manpower to help lift some furniture into a Uhaul. Or offer to help organize and unpack boxes.  Or offer to take the kiddos for the day so they don’t have to be around all the chaos.

20. Say “Thank you”, a lot – Everyone works hard. Thanks are especially important to the postal worker, the government employee, the DMV clerk, the bus driver, the grocery store cashiers, etc.

21. Call your parents and tell them you love them – It doesn’t have to be a long call, but just reach out and let them know you’re thinking about them.

22. Let your partner watch their show – And don’t roll your eyes or huff and puff about it.

23. Don’t be annoying – Make a conscious effort to avoid doing the things you know annoy your spouse (or roommates).

24. Send your friend a letter – When’s the last time you reached out to an old college friend?  Or an ex-coworker you used to be close with?  Let them know you’re thinking about them.

25. Volunteer with kids – Spend some time at a department of corrections or teach a Junior Achievements class. 

26. Spread your skills – If you have a skill (photography, painting, cooking, website design, etc.) and you know someone who has expressed an interest in what you do offer to teach them what you know.

27. Give freely – Go through your things and give freely to those in need.  You likely have way more than you need!

28. Have a shirt that your friend always compliments you on? Why not give it to her? – Do you really need it?  As Marie Kondo would say, is it still sparking joy?

29. Offer to get groceries for your friend or relative who has a broken leg or other mobility problem – Show someone who’s feeling a bit down that you care.

30. Make extra copies of photos and send them to the people who are in the images  – Better yet if you can find pictures from when you were under 5.  Talk about a walk down memory lane!

31. Give warm clothes, shoes, and boots to the homeless – They can definitely use it more than you!

32. Help someone whose car has broken down – There’s nothing more annoying than your day being uprooted due to car issues.

33. Connect people – Know a friend who’s getting married and know another friend who’s looking to start up their wedding photography side hustle, connect them!

34. Walk the cart back to the front of the store – This should be a standard in my opinion.

35. Reach out to a person who has made a difference in your life – Let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.

36. Send a care package to a soldier – You don’t have to know them to show your thanks.

37. Listen when no one else wants to – Let someone know you care.

38. Be patient – No need to get frustrated with a lineup or waiting on hold for someone to answer your call, they could be having a really rough day – no need to make it worse.

39. Try to find goodness in the person you don’t like – They may have had a totally different upbringing and faced some challenges in their life.

40. Know someone who just had a baby or other major life event? – Bring a meal, offer to clean up their house, or do a load of laundry for them.

41. Do you know that your partner hates doing the dishes but you don’t really mind doing them? Do them.

42. Don’t nag – Even if you really, really, really want to

43. Be kind to yourself – Make peace with your past mistakes. Use that knowledge to help others who might be going through the same thing.

44. Let it go – Not talking about Frozen here… Whatever stressors you have in your life, take a moment to step back and ask yourself if it’s really going to matter 5 years from now.  Chances are it won’t.

45. Be someone’s cheerleader – Do you have family members struggling academically in this strange COVID learning environment?  Know someone who recently lost their job?  Lean a hand to help out in some capacity.

46. Do nice things and don’t tell anyone about it – This is one of my favorites.  You should never be doing something kind to receive accolades from others.

47. Notice a kid being well-behaved? – Tell their parents how good they are while the kid is standing there. It will encourage the kid to continue being good and will make the parents feel good.

48. (Along the same lines as #47) Compliment people in front of others – For some reason compliments hold more weight when they’re done in front of others.

49. Bring donuts or other delicious sweets to work – Little acts like this go a long way!

50. Give chocolate generously and often 😉 Seriously, who is going to say no to chocolate?

51. Tell your boss or co-worker how much you like working for them and how much you’ve learned from them over the years

52. Bake a cake for the birthday person – Go all out with the icing and décor (best you can).

53. Don’t complain – We all have bad days.  Try to suck it up, buttercup.

54. Be the eternal optimist of the group – Every group has that Negative Nancy.  Flip it 180 and be the Positive Polly.

55. Recognize the good in others – Deep down, most people have a soft spot.

56. Look for the best in the situation – Yes, times can get tough.  But try to see things through the lens of the glass half full.

57. Leave nice comments on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook  – From personal experience, receiving feedback after providing content is one of the most rewarding features for a blogger.

58. Stand up for the underdog – Go David go, Goliath has nothing on you!

59. Come to the rescue of someone in need  – Give your apple to a homeless person walking by.

60. Smile easily and laugh – Even at the so-so jokes.

61. Share – Even if you don’t really want to.

62. Let someone else have your seat on the crowded bus, light-rail, or subway – You don’t need to be on your phone anyway 😉

63. Create a happy book – Gather all your good memories and thoughts into 1 spot.

64. Keep a pen on hand – Lend it to people when needed.

65. Don’t leave others waiting for you – Be on time, better yet, be a few minutes early.

66. Fill up the gas tank and/or wash the car for your partner and then leave candy on the dashboard for them to find in the morning before work

67. Tell your partner how amazingly “hot” they are – Bonus points if it’s for a non-physical attribute.

68. Tell your partner’s parents how talented your partner is at something – Every parent wants to hear good things about their child.

69. Tip generously – Receive wonderful service?  Let them know.

70. Say “Hi” to strangers – A simple hello can go a long way.

71. Smile at people – We’re not robots! (Yet…)

72. Help lost people – See tourists wandering around lost? Help them out. Be their new local friend.

73. Offer a ride to someone who is car-less – See a hitchhiker?  If you’re comfortable with it, give them a lift.

74. Help that stressed parent by offering to babysit – Even if it’s just for an hour, they will GREATLY appreciate it!

75. If the work-day is running late and you know your co-worker has somewhere they have to be offer to stay late so they don’t have to worry about figuring it out

76. Thank your co-workers for doing a good job, for getting extra supplies, for thinking ahead, for being easy to work with

77. Donate your old clothes to charities – We love the mutual benefit here – we feel more at peace with fewer items in the house and we’re also helping others.

78. Go to your friend’s kid’s event – And cheer them on!

79. Buy the stuff the neighbor kid is selling – Moderately, of course 😉

80. Create a “Dress-Up” box for a kid – Let a kid’s imagination shine.

81. Skype or FaceTime with the kids in your life – My nieces LOVE FaceTiming and I love to see them smiling and showing off their latest creation or other things that they’re proud of 🙂

82. Pick up the tab – Go up to the waiter and pay when no one is watching (of course only if you’re in the financial situation to do so).

83. Avoid gossip – No need to spread any negativity.

84. Give the painter, electrician, or handyman a glass of water or offer them a coffee – Not once has a tech ever taken us up on this offer, but we always ask anyway.

85. Be understanding – Assume the best in others. If someone is running late or has called in sick don’t assume they’re trying to get out of something.

86. Go to your friend’s art opening – You may not get it or be interested, but it will mean the world to them.

87. Spread the word – If you know someone who takes pictures, paints interiors, is a super nanny, a wonderful accountant, etc. – let others know. People who work for themselves need word of mouth referrals more than anyone else.

88. Be inviting – Ask people to do something with you.

89. Leave extra time in the parking meter – The person next will appreciate those extra 20 minutes.

90. Don’t write the complaint letter that you’re thinking about writing – See ‘let it go’ above.

91. Hang out with the person who just moved to town – It’s always hard making new friends after moving to a new place.

92. Drop quarters on the sidewalk for people to find – This is one of my favorite things to do.  And then to sit at a nearby bench and watch.  I’m always shocked by how many people walk right by without noticing them.

93. Leave a whole bunch of pennies heads-up for kids to find on the sidewalk or other public places – Similar to above but even at a lower cost.  Kids love finding heads-up pennies.

94. Pack extra snacks and offer them to your co-workers or friends – That mid-day pick me up always brightens people’s day.

95. Leave good books for others to take at your free little library  We absolutely love our free little libraries throughout our town and finding great kids or adults books always makes our day.

96. Compliment people on their homes – Especially if they put in the sweat equity to do some renovations.  People love hearing that their hard work paid off.

97. Forgive the person you used to hate back in the day – This can be something you do quietly in the back of your mind.  Forgive and move on.

98. Make amends for the wrongs you have done  – Noticing a theme here… let it go!

99. Respect your partner and don’t make decisions without their input – Communication is SO important in a relationship.

100. Let someone else have their way without putting up a fight about it – What’s it really worth?  Your ego?  Just be the bigger person and move on.

101. Donate your vacation or sick days to a person at work who is struggling with cancer, COVID, or another horrible illness – cause really… where are you going to go on vacation these days..?!

102. Participate – The people who organize events always worry that no one will take part.

103. Respond timely – Even if you have to say, “Hey, just wanted to let you know I got your email and I’ll get right back to you.” People like to know they’re not being ignored.

104. Don’t leave people hanging – If you’re not into something someone suggests just tell them so (especially in a professional or work-related situation – don’t act like they’re a date that you want to stand-up/avoid- not professional or cool, at all. Be kind.)

105. Lend your expertise – Know intellectual property law? Help out a friend who really needs that assistance.

106. Send a surprise book to someone from an online retailer – Your Money or Your Life anyone?  They will get a surprise book that will hopefully change their life.

107. Don’t let your friends (or co-workers or acquaintances) be alone on the holidays – In a post-COVID world, invite them over.  In these crazy times, send them a note or share a meal over Zoom.

108. Listen to someone’s life story – Yes, the whole thing.

109. Keep your bad attitude to yourself – Check yo self before you wreck yo self.

110. Decorate for the holidays – Let your inner Buddy the Elf shine.

111. Be happy for others – True happiness comes when we all grow.

112. Don’t butt-in or give advice when you’re not asked for it – Have confidence in others; trust that they are fully capable of being in charge of their own lives.

113. Selflessly help (and promote) others – This is one of my favorite parts of the FI community – people don’t view anything as a competition, rather we try to lift each other up.

114. Give a glowing recommendation – What do you have to lose?

115. Tell the person who is looking for a job when you hear about an opening – Times are tough for a lot of people.  Do what you can to help those that you know are looking for a new gig.

116. Help people out who might be feeling awkward – Coming out of the closet was awkwarddddd, so we know the feeling.  It takes awhile to learn this, but being “different” is a very good thing.  Be a fruit loop in a world full of cheerios.

117. Generously give your knowledge – We love engaging with others either here on the blog, on the Choose FI Canada page, or on our Instagram account.  Knowing that others are interested in FI is the fuel we need to help out.

118. Have you discovered something that has changed your life (cough cough FI)? – Share what you know and inspire others to change their lives too.

119. Spread the goodness – Let others know you are on a mission to spread kindness and they will be inspired to do the same

You can be the change you want to see. Let’s do what we can, together.  Let’s finish off with a few kindness quotes.

“In a world where you can choose to be anything, be kind.” – Caroline Flack

“Do things for other people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” – Harold Kushner

“Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success.  Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool.” – Syed Balkhi

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey

“Never look down on anyone unless you’re helping them up.” – Jesse Jackson

“The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.” Hada Bejar

“There’s no such thing as small acts of kindness.  Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams

How do you spread kindness?  We challenge you to pick one of the items for the list and apply one act of kindness a day for the remainder of the year.  Think you can do it??

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We believe in stacking up life hacks to keep your enjoyment levels to the max without depleting your bank account.  Here are some ways to further educate yourself and save thousands of dollars over your lifetime by making some simple adjustments: