Comments on: They Keep Asking Me http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/ This is where your finance takes place Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:53:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: nancy (aka money coach) http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1369 nancy (aka money coach) Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:55:56 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1369 This is a topic close to my heart as I live in gastown, right beside Vancouver' downtown eastside. I think the meta question to ask is, "why are there increasing numbers of people begging?" There's no way I believe that the majority of panhandlers are doing it 'cause they like it - I also see them stiff-muscled in the mornings lined up for the soup and it's just too miserable and existence (wet feet in crappy shoes all day, eg.) for anyone to do it unless they're too broken to do better for themselves. Having said that, I definitely get annoyed and have to resist pointing out that I just gave my last f-ing loonie to the guy/woman the block previously, and can I NOT get to my home in peace? Generally, my M.O, is: 1. I take someone into sbux or the corner grocery store and buy them some groceries/food about once/month. 2. If I have a bus ticket on me, I'll give it to someone 3. If I have a loonie, I'll usually give it (doesn't impact my net worth! I usually have only plastic!) 4. I give a bit each month to a street-person agency 5. I respectfully say, "sorry - I use only plastic" the vast majority of the time, 6. I vote for politicians who seriously (not lip service) seem to want to care for the marginalized in our society (D'Toqueville: we can tell a lot about a culture by how it treats its most vulnerable). This is a topic close to my heart as I live in gastown, right beside Vancouver’ downtown eastside.

I think the meta question to ask is, “why are there increasing numbers of people begging?” There’s no way I believe that the majority of panhandlers are doing it ’cause they like it - I also see them stiff-muscled in the mornings lined up for the soup and it’s just too miserable and existence (wet feet in crappy shoes all day, eg.) for anyone to do it unless they’re too broken to do better for themselves.

Having said that, I definitely get annoyed and have to resist pointing out that I just gave my last f-ing loonie to the guy/woman the block previously, and can I NOT get to my home in peace?

Generally, my M.O, is:
1. I take someone into sbux or the corner grocery store and buy them some groceries/food about once/month.
2. If I have a bus ticket on me, I’ll give it to someone
3. If I have a loonie, I’ll usually give it (doesn’t impact my net worth! I usually have only plastic!)
4. I give a bit each month to a street-person agency
5. I respectfully say, “sorry - I use only plastic” the vast majority of the time,
6. I vote for politicians who seriously (not lip service) seem to want to care for the marginalized in our society (D’Toqueville: we can tell a lot about a culture by how it treats its most vulnerable).

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1368 The Financial Blogger Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:06:32 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1368 FP, I have too, remember, I lost my sunglasses ;-) FP, I have too, remember, I lost my sunglasses ;-)

]]> By: FourPillars http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1367 FourPillars Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:54:48 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1367 FB - don't make eye contact. Mike FB - don’t make eye contact.

Mike

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1365 The Financial Blogger Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:11:26 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1365 Traciatim, Pretty funny! the worts part is that you probably didn't go to far in your "fishing story". I just can't wait to get after Xmas and get over it ;-) Traciatim,
Pretty funny! the worts part is that you probably didn’t go to far in your “fishing story”.

I just can’t wait to get after Xmas and get over it ;-)

]]> By: Traciatim http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1364 Traciatim Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:12:47 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1364 Well, you could try to teach someone to fish, but then they need to get a fishing license and it's only good for a period of time and you'll probably also have to help them apply for it since they can't read properly to understand the forms. Then you need bait and tackle so you'll probably have to give them that too. Plus transportation to an authorized fishing area since some areas are protected. Then what happens if after all that they get arrested and sue you for not showing them all these things because you just taught them how to fish, you'll probably wind up paying a ton to a lawyer to defend yourself and possibly lose since your not a certified fishing instructor . . . I give money to the salvation army. Then I use the 'I give to the salvation army' as an excuse for everyone else. You could use the 'I've already hit my charity budget for the year' excuse too (if in fact you have a budget, and have hit it). This seems to work pretty well. Just set aside 20 bucks or whatever you feel good with for random giving to beggars and when it's gone fire up the line. Well, you could try to teach someone to fish, but then they need to get a fishing license and it’s only good for a period of time and you’ll probably also have to help them apply for it since they can’t read properly to understand the forms. Then you need bait and tackle so you’ll probably have to give them that too. Plus transportation to an authorized fishing area since some areas are protected. Then what happens if after all that they get arrested and sue you for not showing them all these things because you just taught them how to fish, you’ll probably wind up paying a ton to a lawyer to defend yourself and possibly lose since your not a certified fishing instructor . . .

I give money to the salvation army. Then I use the ‘I give to the salvation army’ as an excuse for everyone else. You could use the ‘I’ve already hit my charity budget for the year’ excuse too (if in fact you have a budget, and have hit it). This seems to work pretty well. Just set aside 20 bucks or whatever you feel good with for random giving to beggars and when it’s gone fire up the line.

]]> By: Gates VP http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1363 Gates VP Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:50:18 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/they-keep-asking-me/#comment-1363 Or you could just <a href="http://gatesvp.blogspot.com/2007/08/donating-money.html" rel="nofollow">"not donate"</a>. I don't give a lot of money and I don't feel like a miser for doing it. Every time I move (new one coming up), I drop tons of used but usable items in the salvation army box.. The way that I see it, almost nobody "needs" money, they need stuff. If they want to earn money to buy their own stuff, then I can give them "stuff" to empower them. Here's a bus pass to get to work or a couple of sweaters to keep you warm. Of course, we have tons of government programs for exactly those purposes and I pay a lot of money to fund those programs. So I think that you're doing just fine :) Or you could just “not donate”.

I don’t give a lot of money and I don’t feel like a miser for doing it. Every time I move (new one coming up), I drop tons of used but usable items in the salvation army box..

The way that I see it, almost nobody “needs” money, they need stuff. If they want to earn money to buy their own stuff, then I can give them “stuff” to empower them. Here’s a bus pass to get to work or a couple of sweaters to keep you warm. Of course, we have tons of government programs for exactly those purposes and I pay a lot of money to fund those programs.

So I think that you’re doing just fine :)

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