Aloha Tyler! First off - Mahalo (that's Hawaiian for "THANKS") for the follow. Most kind.

Next - as a minimalist monk (for over 30 years) I'm enjoying your spotlight on living a more simple yet fulfilling life. Less is certainly more as we re-discover quality over quantity.

I've practiced #8 "Go in on a group gift" for decades - with a twist.

Each year on Thanksgiving, my circle emails me 5 of their most interesting charities (organizations that they've done their due-diligence on).

All charity suggestions - tossed into a collective "hat" along with the names of people in our circle.

I pull out one circle member name. The lucky winner pulls out one charity.

All funds from all people involved go to that one charity - anonymously. (A trip down to the bank for a cashiers check. Check mailed with a simple unsigned note addressed to the leader of the luckly org.)

We celebrate knowing the funds we'd normally spend on 'stuff' will enhance lives we'll never meet.