Asalamu alaykum wrwb ukhti and jazakaAllahu khayran. since this thread is related to the poor, i want to add tips on how we can help them. Wallahi, and i mean it...we CAN help them, and we can DO SOMETHING FOR THEM, but we convince ourselves that we cannot help them at all. I see many sisters and brothers in school buying cookies and coffee every single morning, and when i tell them about the poor, they respond jokingly "we are in need to". and do they fear that maybe someday their words will turn into reality and that they might become what they ascribe themselves to. subhanAllah! anyhow, a cookie or a cup of coffe might cost from 50 cents to a $1 or $2, and it may not do you that good, but 10 cents, yes i said 10 CENTS can get a poor person their lunch or their breakfast. i've started collecting donations from my class mates (the muslim ones) and i try to make them feel the pain of the suffering so that they may help out. and alhamdulillah that works. but i've given up lately and i need to get back on track. to get back to my point, here are some tips which may not be that good but still might work..
1. if you work, when you get your paycheck leave just 30$ in a box on your shelf and make sure no one takes it. If you put 30$ every month in a box for 12 months that would equal $360 a year. if you can't afford to put 30$, then try 5$ or however much you're able to afford. if you do this everymonth imagine how much it would help the poor.
2. if you have clothings which you no longer use but are still in good condition then PLEASE do not throw it away, wash them, iron them, and place in a clothing container. there ARE organizations that do collect this.
3. If you're really just wanting to spend the money, remember there are always good places to spend it on, especially the suffering people around the world. OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS!
those are my suggestions, you're welcome to add anymore that you may have.