How Can I Help if I DON'T HAVE MUCH CA$H?

I am often discouraged from helping a cause because I am on a tight budget. How can I give if I am just trying to get by myself? On the one hand, I challenge myself and others to consider our enormous privilege as Americans (most of my "needs" are in fact luxuries when I consider that millions of people around the world are living without plumbing or A/C). On the other hand, saying to ourselves: "You are greedy and selfish" does not exactly inspire moral action. While both acknowledging our privilege and honoring our need to feel taken care of, I offer you three easy ways to give when you are strapped for cash:

1. Turn Your Occasions into Blessings: If you are celebrating a special event in your life or honoring the loss or memory of someone you love, invite your family and friends to make a donation to an organization of your choice. Your mom was already going to buy you a birthday gift, so why not have her use that money to fund a cause you've really been wanting to support? ... Getting married? Had a baby? In addition to registry gifts, you can invite your family and friends to make a donation in your honor. SoKind Registry is an alternative registry "that encourages the giving of homemade gifts, charitable donations, second-hand goods, experiences, time, day-of-event help, and more." 
2. Tap into Your Talents (or someone else's): Are you a writer? A musician? A potter? Use your skills for a good cause. Help your local community's Committee to End [Gun Violence, Homelessness, Racism, etc.] by writing a killer PSA. Throw a benefit concert in your back yard. Donate the funds from selling your beautiful ceramics or jewelry. Feel empty of talent? I highly doubt that you are but if you don't feel like your talent is marketable, encourage friends who have mad skills to do a project for Good.
3. Make It a Practice: Helping doesn't have to be an occasional, big-deal thing. We can give our time and hands often for short periods. Carve out regular times in your week or month, schedule it on your calendar, put a reminder in your phone, and plan to spend 10 minutes, half an hour, an hour, helping someone. Make it simple and doable so you don't have an excuse to cancel. Pick someone or something you want to help: take an elderly friend for a walk outside; go buy a nutritious meal and give it to the first homeless person you see; attend a meeting at your shul, mosque, church, meditation center, to learn more about a local or global crisis; pack up your compostables and bring it to a community garden; volunteer your time at a local non-profit. Invite friends. Bring coffee. Get your kids involved.