Every week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it's up to you to help them out. A selection of the best answers will appear in Saturday's paper.
Is there any way I can help apart from working in a charity shop? Photograph: Don McPhee
This week's question: I'm planning to do more for charity in 2008. I don't have a lot of spare cash to give away and am wondering what else I can do instead? I'm newly retired, fit, numerate, personable and eager to make a difference. Any ideas outside the rather obvious charity shop work?
Here are some of the answers we've so far received:
If your correspondent is still active and fit, has he or she thought of working for the National Trust on one of its volunteer holidays? I am in my mid 50s and went for five days to the Lake District and helped fill in potholes, tore down barbed wire fences, unclogged a small stream and shifted loads of boulders out of a field - great fun and we got absolutely filthy! In fact, while we were out one day a group of people went by and were heard to say: "I bet they are working off their asbos". Give it a try.
Sheila Treacy, London
Well done for thinking about volunteering for a charity. Charities need people's time as much as they need their cash, and giving something back this way can be very rewarding. Consider going to your local volunteer bureau or check out Volunteering England for organisations in your area in need of volunteers. You can match up your interests and skills to the opportunities on offer.
Carol Kubicki, Preston
You have just listed the reasons why you should try training as an adviser with the Citizens Advice Bureaux. You'll find a team of like-minded people between 20 and 70 plus, as well as clients and problems of infinite variety and interest. In a survey of public perception of charities, CAB was regarded as the most honest, helpful, accountable, approachable, effective, informative and fair. The volunteers get lots out of it too.
S Nelson, Witney
What are your thoughts?
