People who beg for money - do you ever give?

[Sleepy]

I don't give. If I gave to every person who begged around here, I would be broke. It's always the same people. They are on the train, cable cars, in front of pizza places, McDonald's (they even come inside and employees have to run them off), in gallerias, at intersections, etc. I hate to say it, but they are annoying and they know it. They don't take no for an answer. They make their kids do the majority of the begging. The older kids are the worst because they get an attitude with you if you refuse them. These are people who walk up to you with the sad faces and say "I'm hungry, please give me money for pizza", yet when they get the money, they don't buy that piece of pizza they said they needed. They always have new clothes to wear. It's actually a good scam. These people are not homeless. They live in small camps with houses, campers and have cars. It's easy to spot the homeless and yes, I would give to them. They rarely beg. They would rather dig out of the trash cans for what they need.

When I lived in a small town back in the States, there was a well known begger in town. You know the kind that hold the sign "Will work for food"? One of the newspaper people decided to interview him. Asked him about begging and he said it was far easier to beg than to work. He said he never worked as the sign implied. People just gave him money. He said he made about $60 a day and it was tax free....far more than if he worked a full-time minimum wage job. That was over 10 years ago.

 

[Zmsksirt]

Um, they gave him money after he said 'thanks anyways' and walked away. And to be honest, I really think Chris looks like he could handle himself just fine.

What information did he walk away with? To a typical con artist, the money is only the first step. He now has a lot of useful information about this pair. He may use it in the future and they will regret the original encounter. I'm trying to be nice here.

 

[Free4Life11]

What information did he walk away with? To a typical con artist, the money is only the first step. He now has a lot of useful information about this pair. He may use it in the future and they will regret the original encounter. I'm trying to be nice here.

Huh? That's sounds awfully paranoid.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

What information did he walk away with? To a typical con artist, the money is only the first step. He now has a lot of useful information about this pair. He may use it in the future and they will regret the original encounter. I'm trying to be nice here.

He walked away knowing what kind of car we drive, and what kind of toilet we use (it was in our cart). Please enlighten me as to all this useful info he can use against us?

 

[ilovepcot]

Steph and her DH sound like a wonderful young couple to me and I feel they'll be blessed for their kindness. DH and I always give when approached because truth is, we don't *really* know what bad circumstances drove that person to be in such a position. By a mere twist of fate, that could be you or I!

 

[Freyja]

Yesterday we were at Home Depot, and when we made it back out to our car, a man walked up to my dh and asked him if he could load all our things into our car for some gas money. He said he was going to Oklahoma and needed money for gas. My dh politely told him no thanks, and the man said, "ok, thanks anyway" and walked away. I felt bad for the guy, so I reached into my purse, pulled out $10 and asked my dh to give it to the man, which he did, and he seemed very grateful. I just thought to myself, here we are, loading $500 worth of home improvement stuff into our nice Suburban, and here is this man, in a beat up car, asking to load our stuff for gas money. Who knows if he was even really going to Oklahoma - he obviously needed the money more than I did at the time, and it make me feel better to give it to him. I'm usually one to give the guys or gals holding signs on freeway exits a dollar or two. In the summer, we usually carry extra waters and snacks in a cooler in our car. When we see someone who is begging on the street corner, we'll give him a couple bottles of water and some snacks. We like to do stuff like that every now and then. Am I the only one who does this?

No, You´re not the only one. Fortunately there are not many homeless or poor people in general here in Iceland and beggers are hardly ever seen out in the streets. However, when we lived in Denmark I used to give beggers at the train station some fruit and bread, or a meal at Mc Donalds. I usually think to myself, that loosing $10 won´t mean a thing to me, while gaining $10 could almost change the world for someone else.

 

[Stitchfans]

I have never had anyone approach me like that. If they did though and I had some cash on me which I normally don't I would most likely him a couple of dollars.

 

[Lars624]

Just wanted to add something else:

When I was in Chicago a few years ago, (frigid January, as a matter of fact), I saw many, many 'beggars' asking for money for food. Then, I also saw people leaving very nice restaurants giving their 'doggie bags' to some of them. At first, I thought...ewww, who would want someones doggie bag?

But seeing how appreciative they were to receive uneaten portions of another persons meal...well, it really made me think. Yes, some people are scamming for drug money. But some are just really, really hungry and cold. Whatever got them in that place, they are there and I am in the position to help out a little bit, so I do.

My brother does this too....before he leaves a restaurant he orders an extra drink (hot or cold) and gets some plastic silverware & then he takes it to the park to the homeless people. They are always very grateful.

 

[Marseeya]

I've done it a couple of times, but only when DH was with me (and he hated it because he was so jaded from seeing it in the city). You don't see it very much in the town where I live.

 

[inaminute]

In the situation described by the OP, I would definitely have given him the money. At least he wanted to do something to earn the money.

I ignore those standing on street corners, holding signs, etc. To me that reeks of laziness. If you can find time and money for a sign with which to beg, you can find a way to get a job.

Everyone needs a helping hand at one time or another--whether it's emotional, monetary, physical, etc. I'll help anyone down on their luck but they have to be willing to help themselves, first.

 

[ryka]

It must be the city girl in me. I do not give panhandlers money and I wouldn't have given the guy at Home Depot money either.

I feel the same way as you. I live in a city ( about 5 mins from NY.) It's an everyday thing here to have someone beg you for money. I don't give out money.

I remeber when I was younger my mom gave this guy money that was always on this one corner. He remember the car and my mom and would always bother her from that day on whenever he saw her. He would say You helped me before. Could you please help me again. It got to the point that my mom wouldn't drie down that street anymore.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I usually give a few bucks to people who ask. I certainly would have done so in the situation described by the OP.

Living in a big city my whole life, I am street smart. I refuse to be paranoid about information the street person could obtain from me and what they could use against me. It must be awful to think that everyone is out to do harm.

Another thing appreciated here is gift certificates - I keep a stack of McDonalds gift cards in my car and had them out at intersections to the people who say they are hungry.

Even if only 1 out of 5 people will use the money for food or shelter I would still give.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I was at a KMart one day and there was a man outside just begging for money. I did not give him any. After shopping I stopped at the convenience store across the street. Who did I meet, but the KMart begger and he was buying lottery tickets. When he left I asked the clerk a question. He told me that he normally buy $100 worth of tickets each day. No I did not fell bad about not helping him. Hey, if he did this 5 days a week, that is $500.

 

[SeeDisney]

I admire you for being so generous, but no I don't give.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I feel the same way as you. I live in a city ( about 5 mins from NY.) It's an everyday thing here to have someone beg you for money. I don't give out money.

After living so many years in Manhattan, my wife and I have honed our panhandler snub to perfection. When they ask, you just stare straight through them like noone is there at all. They don't get it down here in Florida, but we're teaching 'em, one panhandler at a time.

 

[we3disneygo]

here in the midwest IL.......we mostly see a guy in the median by stoplights asking for money....we always go buy food and give it to them......take a walk downtown Chicago--it's a whole different ball game......the news did a special on panhandlers and how much money they make. when dd was a toddler we were eating outside the science and industry museum and a homeless looking guy was hanging out near by and we had packed a big lunch we shared what we had and gave him a couple of sandwiches -dh walked over to him and asked him if he'd like something to eat he was very grateful. guess you just have to go by your gut feeling-

 

[MsLeFever]

I always give to street entertainers and musicians. I appreciate their craft and what they give to the community.

 

[Pigeon]

I donate to the food bank (and volunteer there) and donate to a couple of local shelters. I don't give to individuals.

 

[Grandpa Simpson]

I rarely give money to individuals, but occasionally I may buy a sandwich or a meal to give to someone.

 

[agnes!]

I never give at stoplights. I will not roll my window down to talk to a stranger. I donate $ & goods to our local outreach - United Communtiy Ministries and also to the Salvation Army. In the past I have bought a sandwich or coffee at McD's and given it to folks.

I have a friend who works with the homeless here, she said that a McD's gift card is always good. I do not personally like being approached in a shopping center parking lot. Maybe it's just me, but when that happens I feel very vulnerable.

agnes!