Couple Disagrees On Whether They Should Be Donating Half Their Income To Charity

Lex Gabrielle
charity
Unsplash | Markus Winkler

Many people decide to help out others and organizations by donating money. Many organizations use donations for research for various diseases, and also to help support multiple causes. Many organizations operate solely on donations, so having individuals who will regularly donate to their cause helps them tremendously. However, not everyone can always afford to do so that often.

Recently, one Reddit user opened up about his charitable donations online.

supporting a loved one with cancer
Unsplash | National Cancer Institute

The Reddit user shared that he lost a relative to cancer and it left a drastic impact on him. He shared that the death was something that he never truly got over.

After their death, he began to donate money to various organizations that use their money for cancer research.

cancer rsearch
Unsplash | Louis Reed

"At that point, I was earning around $90,000 (£83,000) so I was donating about $30,000 (£27,000) a year because I needed the rest for rent, other expenses, student loans, savings, etc.," he said.

Now that he's earning more money, he donates about half of his income to charity.

cash in hand
Unsplash | 金 运

His wife also works part-time, and her money goes into their savings account, he wrote. He shared that they do not struggle with money, but they are also not rolling in it, either.

His wife shared that she wants to cut back on their donations.

savings jar of money
Unsplash | Towfiqu barbhuiya

His wife believes that there are a few reasons why they should cut back on donations. One reason is that she feels as though their small donations do not make a difference compared to the billions that people donate to cancer research.

She also feels as though it prevents them from living a better lifestyle.

counting money
Unsplash | Alexander Grey

With half of their income going to charitable donations, it cuts into their ability to do a lot. She also feels as though he is controlling their finances far too much and she has no say. The Reddit user said their disagreements have gotten pretty bad.

Many people on Reddit thought it was great he wanted to donate to charity.

charity
Unsplash | Marcos Paulo Prado

"It’s amazing that you want to be this philanthropic, but when you have a partner, financial decisions should be made together. There’s a compromise here - but the two of you need to talk and find it," shared one Reddit user.

However, they also felt that his wife should have a say.

piggy bank
Unsplash | Fabian Blank

"Whether or not the donations are useful or valuable or make a difference, you are making an ENORMOUS financial decision that does affect your family without allowing your wife a say in the matter," shared one person.

Others felt half of his income was way too much money to donate.

too much gif
Giphy | CBC

One person said that lowering their quality of life and standard of living to donate half of his income was straight-up insane, especially because his partner disagrees with it.

One Reddit user points out that his responsibility should be to his family.

dad with son on shoulders
Unsplash | Kelli McClintock

"Your first responsibility is to your own family before the random strangers who may benefit from your donations. All I can think about is your poor wife working and all her money having to go into savings for the family to get y'all by while you're just handing away half of yours," they said.

Overall, many felt he was not thinking of his family.

burning money
Unsplash | Jp Valery

While many commended his efforts to help others, they all felt as though he was putting everyone else over his own family and that was definitely not the right thing to do.

Some shared that there are "other ways" of donating.

charity volunteer
Unsplash | Claudia Raya

Some Reddit users said that other than financially, people can donate their time and efforts to organizations to help make a difference in other people's lives. It's not always the money that matters.