An interview with Phil Buchanan, author of "Giving Done Right. ": In the realm of personal finance advice, we tend to focus on the "personal" -- getting your own budget in order, tips for growing your wealth, saving for your down payment, your retirement, your children's education. And in all of those cases, you're no doubt looking to get the biggest bang you can out of your bucks. But of course, not all of your money goals are all about you: American families also donated more than $286 billion to charities in 2017.