Donations - how much is normal?

by Frazzled UBM 50 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Frazzled UBM
    Frazzled UBM

    How much would a well-off Witness be expected to donate? My wife has just withdrawn a few hundred pounds from her account and refuses to tell me why so I suspect she plans to donate it as she hasn't donated for a while because she knows I don't want our money going to the organisation. Is it likely that she is feeling under pressure to make a large donation?

  • sir82
    sir82

    Define "well-off".

    There are several fairly wealthy JWs in my congregation.

    I don't think they contribute all that much on a monthly basis - at most $100.

    But if there is a "big need" - for example, for renovations - they will put in $Thousands.

  • sarahsmile
    sarahsmile

    Ekks that has got to hurt!

  • Frazzled UBM
    Frazzled UBM

    I am in the top tax bracket so she is viewed as well-off even though she earns minimum wage (she doesn't contribute to household expenses and hordes her money). £100 a month is not insubstantial as it adds up to £1200 a year. I would be horrified if she is contributing that amount of our family funds to the evil organisation as we have a sizable mortagage and other expenses. Of course she would never tell me if she is. I also have no idea if the KH needs repairs or renovations etc.

  • The Searcher
    The Searcher

    Firstly, you are MARRIED - you are in a loving and trusting PARTNERSHIP - therefore she should be pooling her resources with yours for the benefit of your household. I'm damned sure I'd never tolerate such a financial imbalance in my marriage. My wife knows I trust her, and she never wastes OUR money from OUR account.

    It's time to use your "headship" and get your Mrs to share the load.

    Boy, she's got her cake & AND eating it!!

    As for "How much is normal" for donations? For our household, (since learning TTATT) a big fat ZERO!!

  • Frazzled UBM
    Frazzled UBM

    I have told her she doesn't see any more of my money until she tells me what she is using her money for. She didn't like it. My view is that our donations should also be a big fat zero but that is very hard to enforce. Luckily I have access to her account so I can see when she makes big withdrawals.

  • Pubsinger
    Pubsinger

    I wish the WT would have new light and decree that tithing is scriptural and obligatory. They'd leave in droves.

  • blondie
    blondie

    Does she have money she can spend how she wants to without your approval? If so, let her spend it how she wants to. I think you will find that she will quit hiding her spending. As long as she has money for conventions, a good car and gas to get to the meetings, no problem. My father was not a jw and he tried to control my mother's spending (not a wild spender) and it made her more determined to have gas money, money (pre 90's) for the publications, money for conventions (we went bare bone...stayed with other jws through the congregation, brought our own food (pre 90's).

    If she donates it to the KH/WTS can it be claimed on your taxes as a contribution. In the US $250 and over needs a receipit. Not sure of UK rules. Would she report it for taxes?

  • Frazzled UBM
    Frazzled UBM

    Blondie - yes she can spend the money she earns without my approval BUT she asks me for additional money and my view is she is not entitled to additional money from me unless she tells me why she needs more than the money she earns. She doesn't drive and she catches the train to the KH -she used to ask me to top up her oyter card for th train but I now refuse tod o that if she is using the card to travel to the KH. She doesn't earn enough to pay tax. I am the tax payer. I will suggest to her that if she is contributing more than £250 a year and she can get receipts in my name I can make a tax claim (it seems so wrong as I am opposed to the WBTS being classified as a charity) . I expect she will deny donating more than £250 a year even though I am sure she does.

  • emeth
    emeth

    there is no 'normal'.... each gives what his heart tells him/her to give

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