1.Volunteer:IF YOU'RE cash poor and time rich this Christmas, why not volunteer or fundraise for your favourite charity?

Find out what volunteering opportunities are available at the moment by logging on to www.volunteer.ie.

If you're running an event to raise money for a charity, then set up a fundraising page on www.mycharity.ie and email the link to your friends.

They can sponsor you by credit or laser card on the site and their donations will go directly to the charity.

2. Waste not, want not

Instead of stockpiling clothes just in case they come back into fashion again, why not donate them to a worthy cause?

Donating to door-to-door collectors may seem like the easiest way of doing this, but beware of bogus operators posing as charities (see main article).

There have also been quite a few thefts from clothes recycling banks, so to be absolutely sure that your clothes make it to a reputable charity, it's best to drop them off directly to one of their shops.

3. Give charitable gifts

Help struggling families in the developing world to help themselves by spending your Christmas present budget on Bóthar animal donations.

You can buy everything from cows to camels, and goats to guinea fowl on www.bothar.ie.

4.Give the gift of life

It costs nothing and it saves lives - yes, it's a blood donation.

You can find out if you're eligible to donate blood by answering a short questionnaire on www.giveblood.ie.

You can also see whether the supply of your blood type is running low.

If you're not eligible to donate blood, or are simply too squeamish about needles, consider carrying an organ donor card. These are available from the Irish Kidney Association, the Irish Donor Network, doctors and pharmacies.

5. Leave a Legacy

You may not be able to afford to donate to a charity now, but could you leave a charitable bequest in your will? Check out www.legacypromotion.ie for details on how to leave a legacy.