Tactic 63 of 99
The Even-a-Penny
“Even a little helps” makes saying no feel impossible.
What it is
Robert Cialdini and David Schroeder found that adding the line “even a penny will help” to a charity request got more people to give. And the amounts people gave were not tiny. Making a small amount acceptable removes the excuse for giving nothing.
Spot it
“Even a little helps.” “Whatever you can.” “Just a few cents.” The minimum is there to get you in. The real target is higher.
Counter it
Decide your own amount in advance. If the cause matters to you, give what you planned. If not, a polite “Not today” is enough. You’re not mean for saying no to something you didn’t ask to be part of.