3 Smart Ways to Give That Actually Make a Difference

Most people think generosity is about leaving something behind.

But the truth is, giving after you’re gone doesn’t create the impact you think it will. 

Whether it’s money for your kids or donations to a cause, waiting until “someday” often means missing the best window to make a real difference.

Here’s how to rethink giving so it actually changes lives, including your own.

Most parents plan to leave an inheritance. But by the time the kids receive it, they’re often too old for it to change their lives in any meaningful way.

The best time to give isn’t at the end of your life. It’s when your children can still use that money to grow, learn, and build something.

Research and experience both point to a sweet spot: ages 26 to 35. 

At that stage, your kids are old enough to handle responsibility, yet young enough to enjoy the opportunities your gift provides.

Think of it this way: money given too late has a declining impact. But money given early (when it helps pay for a home, start a business, or fund new experiences) has lasting value.

And you get something priceless in return: the joy of seeing your gift change their life firsthand.

Money isn’t the only thing worth giving.

Every hour you spend working for “someday” is an hour you’re not spending with your kids today. And once your basic needs are covered, that trade-off often becomes a bad deal.

Time is the one currency that appreciates in memory. The moments your kids remember (dinners, trips, late-night talks) matter more than any number on a bank statement.

So ask yourself: is that extra hour of work really adding to your legacy?

Or is it taking away from it?

True wealth isn’t measured by what you earn. It’s measured by the memories you create.

Charity works the same way as family.

When you give money after you die, the impact is delayed. Sometimes for years. 

But when you give now, that money starts helping people immediately.

And because the benefits ripple outward, early giving often multiplies your impact over time.

So instead of asking how to give, ask how soon your contribution can be used. The sooner your money is put to work, the more good it can do.

And if you can’t give as much as you’d like yet, remember this: you can always give time. Your energy, your attention, your presence - they all count.

The purpose of money isn’t to die with it.

It’s to use it.

To create experiences, to make memories, to improve lives.

Whether you’re giving to your children or a cause you care about, timing matters just as much as intention. 

The best gifts aren’t the biggest ones. They’re the ones given when they can do the most good.

Read the next chapter here.