November Challenge: Surprise Someone With an Act of Kindness

November is the month to celebrate giving thanks. Foster that spirit by focusing on why you’re grateful and by giving another person a reason to be thankful. This month’s challenge is to surprise someone with an unexpected, thoughtful gift. The best part is that you can use a small part of your budget to make someone’s day special!

Here’s how to pull it off:

1. Decide how much money you want to spend. This amount is up to you! Even a small amount of $5 or $10 will go a long way. Small gifts can make a big difference when they’re offered with kindness.

2. Create a budget category with the amount. When you create your November budget, add a Surprise Act of Kindness line to your November budget and list the amount you’ve decided to set aside. You may even choose to move extra money from nonessential categories like clothing or restaurants so you can enjoy surprising someone with an unexpected gift.

3. Look for ways to make someone’s day a little brighter. Maybe a neighbor would love movie tickets or a single mom in your church needs a gift certificate for a spa day. Maybe a friend keeps talking about a book she wants to read or a coworker forgets his lunch. Buy the book or take them to lunch! Think doable and practical. You could give even anonymously and include a note saying, “Thought you could use a little pick-me-up!”

Once you’ve completed the challenge, encourage family and friends to join in! Use the hashtag #KindnessChallenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram when you inspire others to spread the love. Who knows? Maybe you’ll keep kindness in your budget every month!