My paychecks (every 2 weeks) range from like $113 to $500, with an average of like $250. I barely spend, maybe $150 once a year on clothes shopping.
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10
Your situation is a blessed one for practicing the virtue of almsgiving. Since your parents provide for your essential needs and your personal spending is remarkably low (averaging only $12.50 a month if you spend $150 a year), the majority of your income is a surplus.
In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, we look to the example of the early Church and the Desert Fathers regarding our "extra" resources.
The Perspective of the Holy Fathers
Abba Anthony the Great and the Desert Fathers taught that anything we have beyond our actual needs belongs to the poor. If your income is coming in at an average of $500–$540 per month (two $250-ish paychecks) and your expenses are nearly zero, the $180 you wish to give is not just a donation; it is a profound act of Christian love.
As mentioned in the Paradise of the Holy Fathers, Abba Poemen said, "Teach thy heart to keep that which thy tongue teacheth." If your heart is telling you to help these orphans, and you have the means to do so without falling into debt or neglecting a responsibility, then fulfilling that desire is a way of "teaching your heart" to be like Christ.
Wisdom and Stewardship
Being a "wise steward" does not only mean saving for the future; it means using the present moment to store up treasures in heaven.
Consider these points:
- The Sacrifice: Even if $180 is your entire "low" paycheck, you have the security of your parents' support. This makes your "risk" very low, but your spiritual reward very high.
- The Impact: In Egypt, $180 goes a very long way. That amount could provide education, food, and clothing for a child for a significant amount of time.
- The Habit: Starting this level of generosity now, while you are a student, will solidify a life of almsgiving.
A Practical Suggestion
If you feel a slight hesitation about the lump sum, you could:
- Give the $180 now as a one-time offering to satisfy the "urgent" need you saw.
- Commit to a monthly tithe (10%) thereafter. If you make $500 a month, giving $50 monthly to Coptic Orphans would be a consistent way to stay involved without feeling the "pinch" of a single large payment.
However, if the need is truly urgent and you have the funds sitting in your account with no immediate use for them, there is no greater use for that money than to serve the "brethren of the Lord" (Matthew 25:40). As the fathers say, when a man blames himself (or humbles himself through sacrifice), he will "not destroy his hire." Use this opportunity to fulfill the commandment of love.