Dani injured her wrist last week so can’t take her own bike. Nevermind, she’s more than happy to ride on the back of Emelie’s bike.
Making this 4km round trip by bike saves us about $4 in vehicle expenses, makes the roads safer, reduces congestion and emissions and provides Emelie with 20 minutes of her daily exercise without gym fees!
“Effective giving makes a difference.”
That’s not just a feel-good sentiment—it’s a truth we’ve experienced first-hand. Last year, our family donated abiout a third of our income to organizations that are proven to make a difference. Based on the best available data from groups like GiveWell and The Life You Can Save, that contribution is likely to have saved around ten lives. Ten real, precious human lives. And it’s improved the health, education, and economic security of countless others.
This isn’t about self-congratulation. It’s about sharing what’s possible—what you can do—and why we believe that giving generously, when done thoughtfully and intentionally, is one of the most powerful tools we have to make the world better.
As Peter Singer puts it:
“If we can prevent something bad without sacrificing anything of comparable significance, we ought to do it.”
For us, that meant asking a simple question: What if we lived with less so others could have more?
We realized we could still live a joyful, connected, and meaningful life, even while donating far more than the average household. In fact, our life became richer—not in stuff, but in purpose. We drew up our budgets and decided what we needed and what was just icing, or habit. We cut back on meat and alcohol, focussed on fixing things instead of replacing them, and traveling less and then by train or bicycle instead of car. We were already in the habit of buying second hand, but we cut back on shopping too, making clear to our families that their well-meaning gifts are really not necessary. These changes didn’t just reduce our environmental impact—they made space in our lives, our minds and budget for radical generosity.
And the results? Tangible, evidence-backed impact.
We’re huge fans of the effective altruism movement, which asks not just how to give, but how to give most effectively. That means supporting programs that are:
One example: the Against Malaria Foundation, which provides insecticide-treated bed nets. Each net costs just a few dollars and with a generous donation you can protect hundreds of families from one of the deadliest diseases in the world. Programs like this are why estimates suggest one life can be saved for every ~$5,000 USD donated to top charities. That’s how we arrived at our own estimate of ten lives saved last year.
Hans Rosling, author of Factfulness, helps us put this in context:
“The world is not as bad as it seems. It is better. But it is still not good enough.”
There is immense progress happening in global health and development—but that progress depends on people like you and me choosing to be part of the solution. And when we choose well, our giving can go incredibly far.
What we didn’t expect was how good it would feel to give in this way. Not in a fleeting “that’s nice” kind of way, but in a deep, sustaining way that reshaped how we think about what matters.
We’re watching our children learn that joy isn’t just about new gadgets or fast food and that they don’t just have to be spectators. That they too can get involved—and discover the joy of community, compassion, and contribution. We’ve felt the thrill of knowing we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. And we’ve connected with a growing network of people around the world who are also choosing to live more with less—and to give more with purpose.
The truth is, you don’t have to give a third of your income to make a real difference. Even a small percentage can save lives. And the best first step is simply to make a commitment.
That’s why we’re inviting you to join us by making a pledge through Giving What We Can. It’s a global community of people who’ve committed to give at least 10% of their income to effective charities.
It’s free to join, there’s no judgment, and you can start where you are. The pledge is about values, not numbers—a commitment to do what you can, and to do it thoughtfully.
“The life you can save is real,” says Peter Singer.
“And the choice is yours.”
If just 1 in 100 people reading this decided to take the pledge today, hundreds of lives could be saved. Thousands more could be lifted out of suffering. Entire communities could gain access to healthcare, education, and opportunity.
And perhaps just as importantly, you could discover the joy, clarity, and sense of purpose that comes from knowing your life is helping others thrive.
So take a moment. Reflect. And if this resonates with you—make the pledge. It might just change your life, too.
This lightweight back pack has given a few years of loyal service, but was letting go at the seams. I’m no expert seamstress, but I thought it worth giving a repair a go. Turns out its pretty easy to
Last weekend we had the chance to explore part of Brisbane’s cycling network that we haven’t been to in many years. We delivered Dani and her friend to a scout’s camp at Brownsea Water Activity Centre. Adam had soccer games in Lutwyche so we took the opportunity to rediscover the beautfful Boondall Wetlands Bikeway.