Perhaps...
I rarely if ever donate money or give stuff away of financial worth / value to me as money is always a concern and I'm particular about my gear.
Generally if I wish to get rid of something I'll try to sell it if it has value. I've given away a lot of stuff I couldn't sell, but any altruism is limited as my primary motive is to make space without wasting the things I'm getting rid of. The incentives for giving stuff away rather than binning it being concern for the environment / a slightly bizarre empathy for inanimate objects but it's good to know that the charities or individuals it's gone to will benefit.
Not really philanthropy but others benefit as a byproduct. I will sometimes give stuff away to specific people in unsolicited reciprocation for help / similar generosity but again that's not really philanthropic either..
That said, despite earning little and being constantly worried about money I'm not blinkered to my somewhat privileged position (being able-bodied, sheltered, fed and largely debt-free) and do feel a growing drive to help others who are genuinely deserving / in need. I'm barely capable of looking after myself so I try to help others in small, spontaneous ways when able as I largely lack the time, energy or consistancy to commit to anything more.
I've bought food for the occasional homeless person if they look legit but never give them money any more for obvious reasons. I refitted a neighbour's bathroom cabinet last year (an overtly small job that turned into a mission thanks to my own shortcomings), and gave her a hand clearing a relative's garden a while ago. She's a very nice, caring, generous person so I couldn't not help when I'm able and it feels good to give something back when I often find myself so reliant on others..
I'd really like to volunteer for some charity work and there are a few cycle-based initiatives in Oxford I'd certainly have a poke around if I ever get back to living there.
As I've got older I've certainly become less guarded; which works both ways. I'm far less likely to quietly suck it up if someone pisses me off, but also really try to be pleasant, considerated and courteous by default / towards those who deserve it as well.
Really a separate subject but it's interesting to see a lot of people coveting minimalism; I'm very much the same and over the past three years have got rid of so much stuff from the family home of 50yrs.. mainly because of the physical obstruction, mental baggage / future demand potential and visual noise that excess stuff creates.
I wonder if this is a personal age thing, or if it's more generational because we're (hopefully) coming out the other end of an era of unprecedented consumption..?
I've also had those I've given stuff to come knocking on my door asking if I have anything else for them. I do however put unwanted clothes in those Salvation Army clothes skips, but that's when I want to get rid of them, not to do some kind of charitable thing. Sorry if I sound 'uncaring', but I always ask myself who knocks on my door asking If I need anything. The answer to that is no one. I have to look after number one!
