Before the credit crunch started to bite I used to do my bit for charity. It was never a lot a fiver here or there plus the odd couple of quid via standing order. The thing is that currently I, like everyone else, am rather occupied with trying to stop the cost of living getting to be more than the income I live on.

This has left me with some difficult choices. Like stopping some of the regular payments to charity along with cutting back on luxuries. (That's not to say I don't go out now and then but I'm pretty much getting ready to dig in).

The fact that I felt that this was always bound to happen (and had been saying so to my wife for a number of years now) does not help to actually make it through the rough times any better (or worse) than anyone else.

I feel like a complete cad for having to stop my financial contributions to charity and would very much like to contribute in other ways. The question is what other ways exist? I already contribute a large slice of my time to the local community mutual and frankly my time is as stretched as my finances.

Any ideas?