$25 is nothing. In an average month I spend more than $25 on beer and about another $50 on gambling. And this is me on our new budget. Before that I was a money disbursing tornado of fiscal irresponsibility.
At Kiva you can loan $25 (or more) to an entrepenuer in the developing world. Your money is added to that of others and together it forms a microloan. Each person has a specific goal they are trying to reach (buy a water tank, make used clothes stall bigger, repair trailer, etc) and a repayment schedule. Once the microloan is repayed in full you get your money back, and you can then reloan it to someone else or go buy some beer. I think it’s genius, and I plan to participate in the next week or two, as soon as we work it into our budget.
(via Julia, who did it first)
Ha! So true. $25 doesn’t seem like a whole lot in our affluent society. People could spent $25 a week on coffee and not think twice! Thanks for your post on Kiva. It’s an amazing way for people to get connected with something relevant, in a practical way. Good luck with your continuing financial endeavours!
Tim (volunteer with Kiva.org)
that’s awesome that you guys are participating in kiva. i’ve been telling people about it left and right, and i even put their new “gift certificates” on my christmas wishlist.
by the way, the entreprenuer has already starting paying back her loan! what a cool system.