Discovery: how I was the cause of my own poverty

I used to make a point, when giving tsedaka, to also give the meshulach a pen with my phone number and web site.

The pen was cheap. Last time, when I was giving this pen, and running out of pen supply, it suddenly dawned on me that the following Mishna in Bikkurim applies to me.

Poor would bring their bikkurim in straw baskets, and the kohanim would take the baskets away. They wanted the poor to come back next year with a new, hopefully, golden basket.
Rich would bring their bikkurim in golden baskets, and these baskets were returned to them! The kohanim wanted them to come again next year with golden baskets, while still being rich.

I am not giving out pens anymore! I am using a golden pen now, to fulfill "Ein aniyut b'makom ashirut".