You know that money serves three purposes, to spend, to save, and to give away.

We are rapidly approaching the “giving away season.” That time of the year when you will find your mailbox and email crammed full of begging letters.

Many of them are worthy charities. Of course you can’t give to all of them.

So here’s a trick to help you decide which ones you want to help. Call them and ask them to send you a copy of their financial statements. Legitimate charities will be happy to send you those statements.

If they say they don’t distribute their statements then hang up. Legitimate charities know that their statements give them bragging rights. Those statements will show that they are spending your donations to actually support their programs.