A new report by the Giving USA Foundation announces that charitable giving incerased 5 percent to almost $250 billion in 2004, and that doesn't even take most of the tsunami relief into account.

The two categories of organizations receiving the largest amounts of contributions are religious groups and education. Smaller organizations were more likely than larger organizations to see a drop in contributions from the previous year.

Charitable giving is not exactly a hallmark of living the simple life and managing expenses for those of us who do not have thousands of dollars to spare each year. However, some people may find it more manageable and meaningful to donate their time rather than money. There's no tax deduction but volunteering for a project or event often helps an organization in a more meaningful way than money.

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