#40: Just $5 (Friday, October 5)

Whether it's saying hello or taking your own bag to the grocery store you can impact your surroundings in a positive way without spending a dime. But sometimes spending a little cash can also impact someone in a positive way.

Case in point: a couple days ago, I was standing on line in Duane Reade to get a bottle of water. I wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings. When I got to the counter, the clerk told me that the woman in front of me had paid for my water. I looked around, she was gone. It was just a random, anonymous act of kindness.

The Idea: Do a random act of kindness for someone else and don't wait for a thank you. Here are some ideas of things you can do that don't cost a lot, but may have a lasting impact:

1. pay for a small item (cup of coffee or a toll) of the person in line behind you;
2. leave extra money in the dryer for the next person to dry their clothes;
3. tape exact change to the vending machine for the next person who uses it;
4. leave some extra time on the parking meter for the next person or put in a couple quarters on a meter that has already expired if you're walking by;
5. on the expiration date, give your unlimited metro card to someone who is about to get on the subway; or
6. buy two umbrellas on a rainy day and give one to someone else...

The possibilities are endless!

The Cost: Less than $5

The Benefit: You never know what people are going through; your simple act of kindess could help turn someone's entire day around and could also motivate them to do the same for someone else.