Let's Talk: 14 acts of kindness that will make others smile without breaking the bank

We've all heard it. Many of us have even thought it! I know I have. We look around, listening to stories of hour long strings of paying it forward at the local Starbucks and $100 tips to a struggling waitress at some small, local dinner. The stories go viral, helped greatly by our ability to read them and pass them on to all of our friends on social media. But, how often have we shied away from some acts? How often have you thought to yourself, "I'd like to do something really cool for others, but I just don't have the budget for it!" We've all heard it. Many of us have even thought it! I know I have! 

But what if I told you there are a number of ways you can give back and brighten someone's day on  a big level, or even a tiny level, without breaking your bank? What if I told you these acts will bring a smile to someone else's face and leave you feeling  pretty good about yourself? 

So let's explore! Here are 14 (and maybe some bonus ideas, too) ideas to brighten someone's day without breaking the bank (listed in no particular order).

1. Talk to the manager for complementary reasons! How many times have you gone out to eat or walked into a store and had an experience that left a great impression? Now how many times have you asked to speak to a manager to share your happiness with them? They hear a lot of complaints but most people don't think about making it a point to praise. Yes, it is their job to give you a great experience, but that doesn't mean they don't like to hear that they are succeeding or have gone above and beyond.

2. Leave coins around such as in vending machines, claw machines or even in carts at Aldi! A quarter here and there will add up eventually, but it will also make your wallet lighter and bring joy to someone else, most likely a child! 

3. Hold and event like a Lemon aid stand or garage sale and donate all of the proceeds. There are just so many ways you can do this from not putting a price on items, to allowing your customers to make a donation they see fit. From asking only money to offering choice between making food or school supply donations or money. There are even organizations like Alex's Leamonade stand that make a movement like this a lot easier to conquer. You may be surprised how many people will be happy to help you reach your goals! And, hey, don't forget to use social media as a way to let all your friends and family know what you're doing!

4. When you choose not to buy, donate anyway. It's common to find Girl Scout cookie stands, Boy scout popcorn stands or booths for other organization outside your favorite place to shop. We can't always make a purchase, but that doesn't mean we can't open our wallets at all. Next time, think about donating even just a dollar or two to the cause instead of the purchase you don't really want to make anyway. 

5. Leave a note for a stranger. I do this mostly for servers when we go out to eat. It can be as simple as just some nice words on a napkin or a piece of paper folded up and left under the windshield wipers of their car. If they have brightened your day, let them know. If you agree and support a bumper sticker or magnet they are sporting, show your support. Is your server having a bad day due to difficult tables around you, let them know that you appreciate them and give them something to keep smiling about. It might sound silly, but as someone who has been a server, I can assure you that it is appreciated.

6. Donate your unwanted items. This sounds obvious, but it's not something that many of us don't think about. Gather your gently used clothes, toys, books, house hold items or toiletries to homeless shelters, safe houses for abuse victims, food shelters, or even schools with a high number of families who are in need. You'll feel better with less clutter and knowing that it's going someplace good!

7. Donate your time! Make it a family event. Serve food at a soup kitchen. Offer to read books to the children in shelters. Hold story time at the library. Join a group that holds fundraisers. The possibilities are endless!

8. Send a card, anonymous or signed to someone who is going through something big! Weddings, graduations, new babies, moving into the neighborhood are all just as good reasons as a loss in the family, an illness or losing a job. Let them know that someone is thinking of them and cares! It doesn't even need to be a store bought card (but if it is, the dollar store has packs of cards that are cute) but home made cards are pretty great, too!

9. Compliment a stranger. That's right. Walk right up to that woman browsing the rack of shirts next to your rack and let her know that the one she's looking at would look amazing on her! Tell the women in front of you at the grocery store with her kids that she's doing something right as a mother because her kids are behaving awesomely! Tell the guy standing in line behind you at the bank that his shirt made you laugh. Compliment hair, shoes, clothes, jewelry, nail polish, behavior...nothing is off limits (unless it makes you sound super creepy)! I mean, who doesn't like a true heart felt compliment? 

10. Share coupons and punch cards you aren't using. I've had people do this for us and I'm usually pretty excited about it, especially at events that we are attending with our kids and our kids and their kindness helps our kids get more from the experience! Just because you're not going to use those coupons, doesn't mean that someone else won't. Just because you're kids aren't going to use those tickets or punches to play three more games at the carnival doesn't mean that family standing in line to buy more won't be thrilled to have those opportunities. It seems so simple, but so often we are so pulled into our own worlds that we don't realize that those around us could use what we've decided not to.

11. Smile. Great people with a friendly smile. A heart felt smile can be just as great as a heart felt compliment. Really. It can.

12. Buy an inexpensive treat for a little one around you. Of course, it's always a good rule to check with their parents. When you're standing in line and the littles around you are behaving so well, add a $1 candy bar to your cart to treat them. Use that "buy one get one" coupon and give the other treat to a table near you. I mean, if you were going to buy one any way, why not treat someone else and help them smile, too? 

13. Invite other kids to join in. Have you ever been to a mall or some place that has those rides that you drop a quarter or two in and you kids can ride a rocking plan or something? Well next time you drop your quarters in, invite another little one to fill the empty seats your kiddos aren't filling. You might as well get the most for your coins, right?

14. Do yard work for your neighbor or someone who has a hard time doing their yard work. Shovel their sidewalk while you shovel yours. Make your laps a little longer with the lawn mower. It's really not hard once you get started and it will really be appreciated by those you help.

So, there you have it. Fourteen fun activities you and your family can do to bring a smile to someone else's face and give back to the community. Is there something you do that I didn't mention? Have you heard of any really cool ideas that others have done? Let us know in the comments!