How much $ did you give for CD's, books etc? (page 2)

Scully

We didn't contribute anything other than what we collected in field service.

Once we realized out that we were contributing our time and resources, and had a special wardrobe just for meetings and service, we did the math and calculated that the amount of our non-monetary contributions were over $10,000 a year.

Both hubby and I can work any day of the week and between the two of us "contributed" (ie, lost) a half-days' worth of wages for every Saturday and Sunday we spent doing "God's Will". Not to mention the mid-week travelling and time spent to attend the Tuesday and Thursday night meetings.

Then there's the gas, mileage, insurance and vehicle depreciation accrued while driving all over the territory while in service.

Factor in next whatever it costs to purchase and for dry-cleaning suits and dresses that are solely 'meeting clothes'.

It doesn't take much to figure out that the money that people spend toward the mundane "invisible" contributions they make to support the WTS could easily allow a family to afford a downpayment on a home or a better car or extracurricular activities for the kids.

That was "contribution" enough for us.

Love, Scully

Double Edge

Having been an accounts servant for a couple of years, and auditing the books for a few more, the society is only getting about $60 per month from our entire congregation.

Excuse me for being ignorant, but not ever being a JW, I was wondering how a congregation survives on $60 a month? Is that typical? My JW friend told me they pay tithing...is that not true? If so, is there a percentage?

Scully

Double Edge:

Having been an accounts servant for a couple of years, and auditing the books for a few more, the society is only getting about $60 per month from our entire congregation.
Excuse me for being ignorant, but not ever being a JW, I was wondering how a congregation survives on $60 a month? Is that typical? My JW friend told me they pay tithing...is that not true? If so, is there a percentage?

My father used to be in charge of the accounts in his congregation. Each congregation is expected to make a regular donation to the WTS's branch office in their country. This is separate from donations that members contribute toward the maintenance of the Kingdom Hall for rent and utilities. The congregation is also expected to remit monthly amounts toward the literature that the congregation receives from the WTS, which is also a separate "account".

Tithing is not practiced. What I have seen done in the past is that the congregation is made aware of what expenses are on a monthly basis and a "suggested" average per-publisher (what they call someone who regularly engages in the door-to-door work) amount is recommended from the platform.

I hope this clarifies the information you were given.

Love, Scully

outnfree

ExPat,

I only ever contributed what I had available. As my hubby was not a Witness, large donations were not possible (even if I weren't a cheapskate! lol). I don't think I ever put more than $20 in the contribution box for the bound volumes. I tried to donate $5 per month to the KH Bldg. Fund because I had pledged that much to my own Canadian Hall's fund (I'm a sticker for 'paying my vows') and $5 per week to the local congregation.
The literature was always on a what I had in my pocket that particular meeting, less any cash needed to socialize after.
I NEVER paid $50 for the CD-ROM -- understood immediately that that was highway robbery!
Also, because of my husband's job I always had a new lease vehicle to use out in service. I never let the Pioneer sisters drive. I felt the gasoline expended was part of my contribution to the worldwide work.

outnfree

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts -- John Wooden

dobby

My husband and I used to donate $20-50 a month, was in the budget, wrote a check. Of course it was a tax write off at the end of the year, but in hindsight $600 a year was pretty steep. For that much money it seems like we should have advanced to some special "Gold Level" witness or something - go figure :)

I was thinking about RunningMan's comment about the congregation giving $60 per month to the society - may not seem like much but check this out:

63,000 congregations worldwide giving $60 per month = $3,780,000
multiply that by 12 months in a year - $45,360,000

Just another case of a successful pyramid scheme benefiting the people at the very top.

alamb

Magazines: $5.00 per wk.
Books: $1-2
Volumes: $20 set
CD: $25

This changed when I did the math and finally figured I was double paying by putting in the $ I got in F.S. in the box also. That peeved me so I stopped paying for ANY literature. I was pioneering and figured they kinda' owed me.

Wish I had somewhere to send the bill now. 1000 hours per year multiplied by............hmmm + mileage.........

LDH

Running Man says:

For the past three years, I have accepted the same quantity of rags from them, without contributing anything. I believe this is a truer indication of fair value.

Now THAT is funny, folks.

Lisa

chezza

Too much, my kids missed out on simple entertainment all because we had to contribute to the society, can i get a refund?

ballistic

Here in the UK, the arrangement of "contributing" for literature instead of buying it only went out about 10 years ago when I left, therefore I had to splash out continually for new products.
When I was a pioneer, the literature was free or discounted but we had to contribute any takings.
It's the hours spent, not the money that makes me go ballistic. Hour after hour after hour completely wasted for a lost cause. It makes me feel sorry for those who spent their whole life doing this. I really can't tell you just how frightening and sickening this is to me.

William Penwell

The way I looked at it was, Why should I support some old lazy ass farts in Brooklyn when my first duty was to support my family?

Will

"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's."
Mark Twain

How much $ did you give for CD's, books etc?

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