30 Acts of Kindness that Cost $1 or Less to Perform

We put together this list of 30 kindness ideas in honor of World Kindness Day, which is celebrated all over the world on November 13th.

The first 15 ideas cost $1 or less, and below those are 15 more ideas that involve nothing but a few minutes of your time. Hopefully this list serves as a reminder that you don’t have to be a millionaire to impact others with kindness. Indeed sometimes the smallest actions are the most powerful ones.

          15 acts of kindness that cost $1 or less:

1. Leave $1 in a vending machine with a post-it note that says: “Your treat is on me. Have a sweet day!”
2. Put some quarters in an expiring parking meter. Just imagine how grateful you would be if a stranger saved you from getting a parking ticket.
3. Leave a $1 bill taped to an item in the $1 store.
4. Buy a box of lollipops at the grocery store (should cost no more than 25 cents each) and then pass them out to your bank teller, mail carrier, and grocery store clerk.
5. Next time you walk by a street musician, put $1 (or more if you could afford it) in the tip jar and tell him or her how much you enjoyed listening to the music.
6. Tape a $1 lotto scratcher ticket to a local gas pump with a note that says: “Good Luck. I hope you win!”
7. When the person in front of you at the checkout line is a few cents short, offer your spare change.
8. Leave heads up coins on the sidewalk for a passerby to find for good luck.
9. Hand out pennies to kids at a local fountain or wishing well. Who knows? Maybe their wish will come true!
10. Put all of your spare change each day in a piggy bank for a cause. You’ll be surprise how much that can add up to by the end of the year.
11. Buy stamps for the person behind you at the Post Office.
12. Leave some extra time in the parking meter to help out the next car.
13. Place a tip in the tip jar next time you go to a coffee shop.
14. Leave quarters at the laundromat with a note: “Clean clothes make me happy too! Enjoy this clean load of laundry on me!”
15. Say “Yes!” next time a cashier asks if you want to donate $1 to the cause that particular store is supporting.

    15 acts of kindness that are free:

16. If you’re an Amazon.com customer you can donate Amazon.com’s money to your favorite U.S. nonprofit through Amazon Smile. With each purchase you make, a small percentage is donated to the non-profit. Learn more and sign up here.
17. Clip coupons, go to the store, and put them on top of the corresponding products.
18. Post a picture of you and a friend on social media with a comment about the positive impact they’ve made on your life. Tag them to make sure they see it.
19. At your next family gathering, offer a toast and let everyone know how much you appreciate them.
20. Return the grocery cart of an elderly person or expecting mother, or anyone for that matter!
21. Next time someone tries to stop you to have you sign a petition, listen to what they have to say. You don’t have to sign it if you disagree, but they will appreciate the fact that you didn’t just ignore them and walk right by.
22. Have extra cardboard boxes lying around the house. Post on your Social Media that you have boxes.  Someone you know is likely moving and will gladly take them off your hands.
23. Get good service at the restaurant? Ask your waiter to send the manager and then let the manager know how pleased you were with the service.
24. Call someone you usually ask help from just to say “Thank you,” and let them know how much you appreciate them.
25. Let go of a grudge and forgive! You’ll feel a giant weight off your shoulders when you do.
26. Leave a great comment on someone’s blog. Bloggers often spend hours crafting a post, and it feels great to get positive feedback from readers.
27. Leave a book you find interesting on a bus, train, or plane. Hopefully the next person will enjoy it as much as you did.
28. Help an elderly or disabled person to safely cross the street.
29. Send a thank you note through the mail. Email and text are nice, but getting an actual piece of mail is more meaningful.
30. Promote a friend’s business on your Facebook or Twitter. It will only take a moment but it will mean the world to any entrepreneur trying to get the word out about their business.

We hope you enjoyed this list. Just imagine how thrilled you would be if you were on the receiving end of any of these acts of kindness! In honor of World Kindness Day, consider performing at least one of these acts this month. If there are any other ideas that are $1 or less that you think should have been included, please let us know in the comments below.