People are dying of cold, starvation, etc. around the world and yet I have spent more than the average US household income on my hobby in 2012. I plan to donate as much money to charities as I spend on my hobby in 2013. I hope it will ease my guilty conscience. If it does then I can hobby more without feeling guilty. Does anyone else has such feeling and how do you deal with it?

I do have a favored charity where I can occasionally lend a helping hand & I do so.  Rather than spend the money on wine, women & song.  There's no right or wrong to this but there's nothing wrong with having some humanity.  I appaud you.

no one can solve all the world's problems..if you actually feel guilty about hobbying..just do not do it..you will have no guilt at all if you do..no one is forcing you to see a provider..you have a free will..although it is a little conflicted..

Posted By: hiddendragon05

People are dying of cold, starvation, etc. around the world and yet I have spent more than the average US household income on my hobby in 2012. I plan to donate as much money to charities as I spend on my hobby in 2013. I hope it will ease my guilty conscience. If it does then I can hobby more without feeling guilty. Does anyone else has such feeling and how do you deal with it?

Government policy.  Under the new tax rules, the combined federal and California marginal tax rate on my income will be close to 50%; and they are threatening more "tax reform."  This enhanced redistribution of my money is far more significant than my hobby spending.  I have been, for years, a strong believer in tithing, but it seems that the government believes it is far wiser in determining how my money should be spent.  I'm fortunate that I can still continue substantial charitiable giving, but I would have no issue cutting back if it meant a reduction in my hobby expenditures.  Bottom line, the government has made me a more selfish person, which I greatly resent.

I don't feel guilty for my hobby, but I do feel guilty for spending too much on it while others suffer. I don't want to stop or cut back on my hobby so I am trying to figure out a way around it.

In my younger years, I wouldn't feel the pain of others' suffering or feel guilty for not doing anything about it. Since it's a recent development, I thought it might be age related so I am seeking some ideas here on how to deal with it.

I remember the time when combined taxes (federal, state, local, property, etc) was over 75%. I used to spend half of my time trying to make money and half of my time trying to keep it. I think it's going to get worse before it gets better.

if you have issues..only YOU can solve them..we can only give advice..ultimately you control your own destiny..

If you want to donate to chartiy that is great. What ever charity you choose just make sure you follow your heart by choosing a charity that resprestents what you want.
I am a FBSM provider and dont really want my clients to feel guilty, because they really have no reason to feel that way. If they do i would be the first to politely tell them they may want to consider finding a new hobby. But that is only because I care about the way my clients feel

I hate to say this, but this is one of few high-income jobs available to individuals who need flexible schedules because they have kids of because of other lifestyle choices, without higher education, still working through school, etc... It's one of the few services you pay for where all or most of the money you give goes directly to the worker (not so much from buying goods, getting massages, going to a restaurant, etc) and not to management, shareholders, or corporate management. In terms of consumption that promotes equitable flow of capital...this is a pretty good way to do it.

You're keeping people from having to use charitable funds by doing this.

I think that donating as much money as you spend on "hobbying" is great ... and I don't think that "hobbying" replaces charitable giving. But I don't think you should be hard on yourself for spending money in this way...

Posted By: hiddendragon05

People are dying of cold, starvation, etc. around the world and yet I have spent more than the average US household income on my hobby in 2012. I plan to donate as much money to charities as I spend on my hobby in 2013. I hope it will ease my guilty conscience. If it does then I can hobby more without feeling guilty. Does anyone else has such feeling and how do you deal with it?

If you are on this board your hobbying days are numbered.  You can give to charity for the rest of your life and posthumously.  Relax and enjoy yourself.  Life is short.

-- Modified on 1/21/2013 11:46:19 PM

There might be a deeper rooted reason for your guilt feelings....but I'm neither trained or interested in going there.
Learn to be grateful for what you have and what you're able to give. As you become more grateful throughout your day your guilt will take a backseat. You're feeding the guilt and giving it life. Stop it! What are you? Catholic?
Breathe gratitude in.....and exhale it. And again. And again. Namaste.

To feel guilty means you think your doing something wrong.  If you feel that way....take up a different hobby!!   I happen to believe once your dead.... your dirt and no over's.   Enjoy your life - just do no harm.... and feel no guilt for being human.  Experience all you can cause you won't get a second chance...  Good acts don't erase bad acts.  Its great to give to charity.  It's silly to do it hoping to erase what you think is doing bad in the hobby.  If you think the hobby is bad..... take up bowling.  

I work with a group with a certain chronic disabling disease.  
I recently gifted privately equal to a donation...  to a nice woman whose husband decided to save himself & abandoned her to fend for herself.  (What an ass!)  She didn't have money for food...  or rent...  with 2 weeks to the end of the month.  I'm not rich, by any stretch, but for the same as I would spend on an hour or 2 of wine, women & song...  I can do some good.  And I get to choose where it goes & not to some well paid executive administrator.  What I chose to do is totally private & like the hobby, done in cash...  no one will know, nor does the recipient need to declare the money.

I do not look at it as compensating for my 'evil ways' for I don't believe there is evil in my heart.

It's my money, I worked for it, and I'll spend it how I see fit.  While I do not spend as much as you apparently do, what I have spent over the last 6+ years is a significant amount, at least to me anyway.  I do it without a hint of guilt.  If I felt at all guilty, I'd do as mentioned and find another hobby.  

But, think of it this way, if you spent a lot of money on, say golf equipment and playing golf, would you feel as guilty as you do spending $$ on hobbying?  After all, they're both hobbies aren't they?

Swim