Expenditure expands to meet the funds available. With that in mind, I've operated a tithe for over 15 years now. If I give before the funds are available to me

Expenditure expands to meet the funds available. With that in mind, I've operated a tithe for over 15 years now. If I give before the funds are available to me I have always adjusted accordingly and never felt like I was burdened or put out by donating. When I've tried giving what I have left at the end of the month (rather than immediately after receiving income), I find I can't afford it. Then I make excuses about how it's hard to afford it. Give early, give when you're earning little, give a % and let the amount increase with your earnings. What I actually donate has dropped significantly, because I moved from being employed to founding a company and my earnings collapsed. But it remains a similar % as always. The original inspiration for this was speaking to some co-workers many years ago who are Muslim, and their sharing the fact that all Muslims give a tithe to charity and most target the most impoverished and hard-up people rather than a religious cause. I was quite moved by that and took up the practice. In some ways I think of it as just an income tax that I can target towards things I believe in: homeless charities, cycling causes, computers and education for those without access to either.