Use your plastic for the power of good. One way to start is by signing up for a credit card or debit card that gives back.
Find out if your bank offers a cause credit or debit card, such as Bank of America's BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa card that benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The bank donates a percentage of each purchase to the cause. It also has debit cards that support the World Wildlife Fund and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, according to its website.
There are also some rewards credit cards that have a feature allowing a cardholder to donate a portion or all of your rewards or points to a favorite charity. Call your issuer to find out what your options are.
Lastly, sign up for SwipeGood, a program that rounds up your credit or debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and donates the difference to charity. You pick the charity out of hundreds of participating nonprofits. To ensure you won't go over budget, you can set monthly donation limits. The only drawback is the company takes a small cut to cover operational costs and other fees, but the majority goes straight to your charity.