As far as giving to the homeless, etc... I generally give a dollar to anyone who asks. I figure they can't get into too much trouble with one dollar, and it's still giving something to help another person in need. I still go by my gut feeling sometimes, and don't give to everyone, though. Also, I put a "daily max limit" on my giving, too. I can only give so much in a day. Mostly I try to use it as a chance to talk to the person, and find out a little bit about them.

I think most of the people begging have mental health issues, and it can be very hard to tell at a glance who is sick or not, so I try to give without worrying about who the money goes to too much.

Also, I try to see it as a chance for me to be grateful for what I have and to share a little bit.