Since I’ve started hounding, I’ve been able to not only provide more for my family for less money, but I have been able to provide more to family members and friends that may be in need. I love how much I have been able to give without feeling like I was taking away from my own home!
Take last week, for example. On Sunday, I was able to put together a bag of goodies for my Aunt and Grandfather’s house, just because. I went through my stockpile and saw a few things that I had plenty of and decided that it was time to start sharing again. I sent off these items to them via my Mother(she sees my Grandfather pretty much every week so I send off the goodies with her).
Even after my Mom picked out the items that she wanted from the pack(she’s notorious for doing this….she calls it “oldest sister’s prerogative”), there was still a good amount left.
Next, I wanted to take some of my free items down to the military base while I was away for my week. I knew that I had a ridiculous amount of cereal and snacks in my pantry and even if I kept them here, we wouldn’t get through them all until next year sometime. I decided to take a few bags of goodies with me and buy a gallon of milk once I got down there. I also took the free rubbermaid take along containers(not pictured) I got a few months ago and let the guys use those all week for their cereal. 
I was so happy to see it diminish throughout the week. I was thanked by at least a few people everyday for bringing the goodies. I ended up saving money for many of the guys because they didn’t have to stop at a fast food place every morning to purchase breakfast. It was already waiting for them at work!
Last but not least, I looked one more time at my stockpile and saw yet even more items that I was willing to share with others. I had taken care of my family and friends, but who else could I share with? Then it hit me. I had been washing clothes most of last Monday and had seen the empty table in the laundry room. I decided to put together a box of freebies and place it on the table there to share with my neighbors. Here in my complex, people aren’t really that friendly to one another. We say hello, but only if the person is right in front of you and you can’t avoid them. I call this the “New Jersey plague” because most New Jerseyans love to avoid talking to one another, even more so than New Yorkers. The paranoia runneth over in these parts. 
I put these items in the box and printed out a sign that called it a “karma box.” I instructed my neighbors to take any item they were in desperate need of and to continue the good karma, leave some items for others to enjoy. I also directed them to the freecycle website for our area and encouraged them to take a peak. Freecycle has helped us so much, I figured I should lead a few of my neighbors to it as well. I made sure I took the box over when no one was there(don’t want any type of recognition….defeats the whole “anonymous”thing) and I never went back to see if all of the items where taken. I left that one up to the universe.
And guess what? Everyday I was on military duty, I ended up finding some type of money….whether it was a quarter, or a twenty dollar bill(that’s right!), it seemed to gravitate to me. Was that karma? Maybe. All I know is that it felt great to share all of those things and float on a cloud. Finding the funds was definitely just a bonus :o)
You are a strong woman that the universe loves! Thank goodness you use your power for good. Sure wish I could have seen the looks on the faces of the people in the laundry room.
tenney, me too! I have been wondering about it all week. I really would love to know how many “ripples” my “peeble” has created around the apartment complex. Maybe others decided to loosen up a bit and even help others out in the complex just from that one good deed.
Amiyrah –
Great post! I sent you an email about it. Thanks for being such a great inspiration!
I have a whole bunch of stuff I’ve been meaning to Freecycle but some of the people on our list have been less then nice. I was going to put up an ad by the mail boxes but I never thought to just leave a small box in the laundry room.
And I live in a community that prides itself on being friendly. They need to put a memo up in my complex because I think I’ve been said Hi to twice since we moved in back in April.
That was so kind of you to give gifts like that! I am always giving my parents and friends things that I have alot of and they need. It feels so good to share!
maria and cassie,
thanks for the comments! :o)
I’ve just found your site and I love it! You are so generous, and you have such creative ways to share your blessings. I look forwards to seeing more 🙂
I love the idea of a “Karma Box.”
I’m going to share this idea on my blog (giving credit to you of course) and maybe the idea will spread. 🙂
kate and mrshopps, thank you for the kind words! Hope to see you two post even more on the blog…
Ah yes, karma. There’s good and bad…and Amiyrah certainly has shown us all examples of how easy it is to generate some good karma. And you finding money? Didn’t surprise me in the least! I may have posted this on your blog or on the Pound before, but it’s so good it’s worth a rinse and repeat:
Tomorrow God is not going to ask what did you dream, what did you plan, what did you preach? He’s going to ask, what did YOU do?
One day, Amiyrah, when you’re asked that question at the ol’ Pearly Gates, you will be able to answer: Plenty.
Mahalo for the inspiration!
I love to give my stuff away. Last week it was to the mom of my Little Brother. I just told her that I needed to make room amongst all my freely acquired goodies. I think it helps her to accept all the shampoo, deod, razors, and such that I give to them. Nobody likes “charity” but if they feel like they’re helping you by taking stuff off your hands, it’s a whole different story. 🙂
I’m curious as to if anyone really used the items you left. If I saw a box in the laundry room that contained items and said free I would hesitate. Too much of a chance the items had been doctored. Sorry but just the way it is.
“me”
thank you for posting. Yes, i’m sure people took the items. I had to do laundry that whole day and saw that little by little, people were taking what they needed. I understand how you feel, but I believe if you put positive actions out there in the world, you are giving a blessing to someone that may really need it. Maybe someone in my complex was out of one of the products and didn’t really have the 3 or 4 bucks needed to buy them.
Maybe I’m too much of a “hippie” but it’s hard for me to think cynically and extremely cautious.
But that’s just me :o)
I love the karma box idea! That was so sweet of you to do. I’m going to have to come up with a creative way to donate some of my goodies.