DEUT732 The verse speaks about when poverty exists "within you" or "within your community" (this verse). Based on this verse and the Talmudic discussion, Rema in the Code of Jewish Law rules that you come first (Rema on Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 61:28). If you are poor, then you come before anyone else and you give to yourself first, in order to escape poverty. Mishna Berurah commentary, however, is quick to add that it is forbidden to rationalize in this area and be lenient with your own needs in order to give yourself more funds than you are actually entitled to (Mishna Berurah commentary on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 156:2). You are only permitted to give yourself enough funds for subsistence and to remove yourself from abject poverty before you are obligated to begin giving to others. If any person extends his or her hand to receive charity, even a non-Jew, unless a Jew is certain that this person is a fake and not actually poor, the Jew must give this person some small amount at the minimum (Tur, Yoreh De'ah 251). Even if a Jew possess relatively little for himself or herself, he or she must never turn away a person putting out his or her hand for charity (Rema on Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 249:4).