When making a donation to charity, you can often feel pressured into giving, especially here in the UK where charities market themselves to such a huge extent. I have just shut the door in the face of some guy from an unnamed charity, who wouldn't let go - he was like a rabid dog clinging to my leg, asking for donations.

That's not the way I like to operate - I prefer to give to charity when I want to give to them, when I want to give to them. That's why I always search for my charities online and pay through my payslip or salary.

Here are my tips for choosing a charity - and for avoiding the aggressive ones:

1 - Never give to a charity you know nothing about

Sadly, there are charities that don't do what they say on the tin. Plenty of them. Stick to the ones that you've heard of and stick to the ones that provide clear, detailed evidence of their work.

2 - If they ask you, shut the door in their face

End of story. Charities should not resort to going around knocking on doors and begging for money. You are the boss and they rely on people feeling guilty at not giving money. You could be giving money away each month, and you can't give to everyone. Ignore the sob stories.

3 - Give to charities with whom you feel personally attached

If you are going to choose from one of the many charities, it's always best to choose one with whom you have a personal empathy. It means more to you, and you'll be more inclined to check how your money is being used.

4 - Really check them out

There are charities who disguise themselves as well-known organisations, and indeed logos very similar to theirs. Check with watchdogs and hoax websites because there are some charities who are solely for the benefit of themselves.

5 - If you can, pay through your salary

Find out if there are any schemes that allow you to pay through your salary at work. Ask your boss if the company runs schemes locally - my own company runs its own charity whereby people can opt to pay some money every month towards local children in need.

Ultimately, it's up to you - don't listen to sob stories, and avoid anything that's not kosher, check up on everything, and keep a record of your donations.