The reasons to volunteer your time in your area are endless, and none are so great as the difference you can make in the lives of others. And in addition to the warm and fuzzy feeling you get from donating your time, there are a lot of other perks you can get from volunteering as well. For example, did you know that you can deduct the cost of your travel expenses to and from volunteer events when tax time comes around?

Volunteering is a great way to give to others and can be equally or even more helpful than donating monetarily. And apart from saving money on charitable donations, you could save on other things as well, like entertainment. Lucy Lazarony of Five Cent Nickel thoroughly enjoys the perks of her volunteer position at her local cultural arts center (Old School Square):

On my first day, I took a tour of Old School Square, learned about all the volunteer opportunities at the museum, the theatre, and the many outdoor festivals and concerts that Old School Square hosts throughout the year. Being an usher for a cabaret show this autumn or helping with the holiday carousel sounds like fun to me. I’m an arts lover on a budget. I can give of my time and my talents but I don’t have the bucks for big donations or concert tickets.

The membership to Old School Square is a reasonable $30 and is not required of volunteers. Concert tickets for main stage events are $42. By helping behind the scenes, I can enjoy all the excitement of live theatre or a concert performance or a holiday celebration for free.

What are some cool perks that you look forward to when you volunteer? Please share them with us in the comments section below!

Read more over at Five Cent Nickel’s How Volunteering Pays Off.