There's a reason they need help.

[cardaway]

Anybody else feel it's a little off when you see people smoking like a chimney, wearing tons of jewelry, and asking for financial help?

Recently we screwed up and flipped to the local news before the weather. On there was one of those typcial "good news" stories about a family who needed and got financial help for their child.

The family (Dad, Mom, and I'm guessing and a couple uncles) were covered in jewelry and all smoking during the on camera interview. Yes, I have some advice on how you could get more money

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

How true. That'll teach you to watch the local news

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Wanna guess whether they all had cell phones, too?

It always makes me laugh seeing a P-O-C car, barely held together, all duct taped, driving down the road and the driver is on his or her cell phone. I guess communication is more important than transportation.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Hmm how long until someone posts the jewlery could have been gifts?

Anyway, this shows that some people have no priorities in their lives. I am always amazed by the stories DH tell me about people asking him for money with a cigarette in their hand (and sometimes a beer as well). He finds help if there are kids involved, he feels bad for the kids.

 

[AllyandJack]

I find that I can only watch the 1st 5 minutes of the news - just to make sure nothing blew up and nobody died. After that, it's all crap. I can't stand these stories. One was about a "model student" who was shot while on a visit home from college. Woe is him. Such a tragedy. They didn't say until the end that he was shot breaking into someone's house! Recently, a guy was shot. His family is on TV about how HORRIBLE it was for the cops to shoot him in front of his daughter and the cops traumatized his daughter for life. Gee, you think robbing a supermarket and charging at the cop in his minivan with his daughter in it could have traumatized her, too?

 

[barkley]

try working for the "welfare" office and having women shriek at you that "there's no way i can support my family on the cr** amount i get"...all the while wearing designer clothing, sporting very nicely jeweled and maniqured nail tips, stunning hair extentions and only pausing to answer the top of the line cell phone carried in their designer handbag...

it got even more frustrating when people DEMANDED food from our on-site pantry "because my kids are starving" and then turned their noses up at because "i won't eat/feed my kids store brands, i know that came from safeway i only eat stuff from trader joes....".

very strange priorities.

 

[paigevz]

They do not plan ahead. They live only for now. Instant gratification and instant rewards. They are so unhappy with their lives, that buying things/toys gives them a measure of happiness for the immediate now. They do not stop to consider whether it will impact them tomorrow. Then tomorrow comes, and they really don't have what they need. They teach their children to live the same way. They only want to wear/buy/eat/get the best because it makes them feel worth more. That's why often the biggest "name brands" sales are to the poor, while the middle class is more likely to buy brands for quality than for the name.

I see this a lot in my students' families.

 

[cardaway]

try working for the "welfare" office and having women shriek at you that "there's no way i can support my family on the cr** amount i get"...all the while wearing designer clothing, sporting very nicely jeweled and maniqured nail tips, stunning hair extentions and only pausing to answer the top of the line cell phone carried in their designer handbag...

I forgot about the nails. She had those too. My wife ntotced them while I was looking at the size of the earrings.

There are people here at work who talk about not haivng enough money and they have those nails that look like small modern art paintings. Priorities indeed.

 

[mrsltg]

This will turn ugly very quickly

 

[AllyandJack]

My cousin is on welfare. She has a $450. cell phone. She had an iPod Nano but "lost" it (she sold it for drugs...we all know it). So, she just got another one. She'll only carry Coach bags. She's a snob. I have no idea how she manages that mind-set, but she is a first-class snob.

 

[NMAmy]

Recently we screwed up and flipped to the local news before the weather. On there was one of those typcial "good news" stories about a family who needed and got financial help for their child.

Just curious--what was the financial help was for?

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Anybody else feel it's a little off when you see people smoking like a chimney, wearing tons of jewelry, and asking for financial help?

Recently we screwed up and flipped to the local news before the weather. On there was one of those typcial "good news" stories about a family who needed and got financial help for their child.

The family (Dad, Mom, and I'm guessing and a couple uncles) were covered in jewelry and all smoking during the on camera interview. Yes, I have some advice on how you could get more money

This bothers me, also.

 

[jbdreamer]

This reminded me of when I worked in retail years ago. I specifically remember one woman that really bothered me. I worked in the Accessories Department and a woman was shopping with her children who were literally dressed in rags. Their shirts were dirty and full of holes. I helped here look at Coach and Dooney and Burke purses for over 30 minutes. She ended up buying a $300 bag. It was one of the few times I was ever disgusted with a customer.

 

[rayelias]

Over my desk, I've got an ad I cut out of a financial magazine about 6 or 7 years ago. It's for retirement planning.

The picture is of a real nice suburban "McMansion" home with a luxury car in the driveway and an SUV with a real nice boat hitched on to the back. The father's wearing designer clothing, nice watch, expensive sunglasses. The wife is all decked out, tennis bracelet, the works. Child's on a nice bicycle with designer clothes. Typical "dream family".

Underneath is written, "The Jonses are $360,000 in debt."

Moral: Just because the Joneses look successful, doesn't mean they are. Don't try and keep up with the Jonses, lest you'll be in the same situation as they.

I've got it prominently displayed to remind myself that if I want to be able to retire early and live comfortably, I need to sacrifice the "niceties" of today for a long, stress free, financially well-planned future.

There's a great book, "The Millionaire Next Door" which is eye-opening in regards to who the typical millionaire is versus whom you may think. Appearances, many times, are very deceiving.

 

[paigevz]

Good post.

 

[RadioFanatic]

My cousin is on welfare. She has a $450. cell phone. She had an iPod Nano but "lost" it (she sold it for drugs...we all know it). So, she just got another one. She'll only carry Coach bags. She's a snob. I have no idea how she manages that mind-set, but she is a first-class snob.

as my mother likes to say "champagne taste on a beer pocketbook" - makes me sick.

 

[sunnymommy]

I used to work in private sector child care. Sometimes it was all I could do not to lose my cool with people when they wouldn't pay their bill, but had their nails done and they had just bought junior a new pair of nike tennis shoes and told me earlier in the week how they went out on the town last weekend. At times like these, I felt somewhat justified in saying...no payment, no childcare. Of course, there are people who actually need the help and are doing everything they can to get by and it would break my heart to put those children out for non-payment. But what wonderful lessons to teach your children in the former case

 

[disneymom3]

Hmm how long until someone posts the jewlery could have been gifts?

.

Okay, just for fun. Myabe the jewelry was gifts, the nails were done by a friend in the biz and.......hmmm, I can't explain away those cigarettes.

Yeah, it bugs me too. It also bugs me that when my cousin received food stamps her kids were dressed better than mine and she thinks I am strange for buying clothes for my kids from garage sales.

 

[Crankyshank]

Recently, a guy was shot. His family is on TV about how HORRIBLE it was for the cops to shoot him in front of his daughter and the cops traumatized his daughter for life. Gee, you think robbing a supermarket and charging at the cop in his minivan with his daughter in it could have traumatized her, too?

Are you talking about the guy that was shot robbing a Stop & Shop in North Smithfield?
If so I saw the parents on tv blasting the poor officer that shot him and how he needs to be fired and how the daughter is traumatized now. yeah ok because it's not traumatizing to have your father bring you along when robbing Stop & Shop of formula while he was high on some sort of drug (I think it was crack)

 

[BabyTigger99]

I work for the court system. When children are taken away, parents are given an Indigency hearing to see if the Courts will appoint counsel for them. There is a 3 page form they fill out, and what floors me is no one works, has no money in a checking or savings account, but 9 times out of ten they smoke, drink, have internet, and have cell phones!!!