Has anyone noticed?

I hear you, Polly..
The thing is, I'm such a freakin' bleeding heart. A few months ago I was at Target, getting into my car. A young gil pulled up next to me, and I saw she was cryning. She told me she had no gas and just got kicked out of her parents' house..She had a baby in the car. I handed her $20. I felt like I'd been taken when she drove away, but how could I turn her down? She was crying. Normally I can't tolerate crybabies, but she was just a kid..and she had a kid. Anyway, I saw her at the gas station...

People sit at the exits by the stop sign and hold up signs or walk up to your vehicle. I get real nervous when they do that. That is why I keep my vehicle locked at all times. In todays world, you never know what they will do. Heck you can't even go to Wal Mart without being hit up for money. There was a guy asking people as they came out of the store, and he stopped my husband asked for $10.00. Hubby told him we didn't have the money and they guy got rude and said you are full of sh*t, look at what all you bought, you have the money. We had groceries and dog food.

Tammy that is just it! I was holding 20 dollars which this guy had his eyes on, but shoot I put 50 in my truck for gas and the 20 I needed to get my rx filled. We all have our needs and our needs have to come first.
Fins bless you heart, I used to be like you, but right now I cannot think of anyone but my own children. They are my responsibility, and any time I try to help someone else, something will come up with the kids, and then I don't have what I need for them.

I am-seriously- a big believer in Kharma. I try to be the best person i can, because I have to sleep with myself every night. And..I don't want to face the repercussions if I'm bad.

But..That doesn't mean I don't love a good juicy B**ch session. You know I do.

But I know if you were ever in a real financial jam you would get ju ju kharma for looking out fo your own:)

I know what you are saying about the cost to fill a vehicle. It takes $65.00 to fill my van and $42.00 to fill hubby truck. It is getting rediculous. Because of the gas prices, we didn't get to go to moms this year.

You know what when such things happen to me.. I get this feeling inside when someone asks me for money.."a poor beggar asking money from an aristocrat beggar." The things look different at the other side of the table like a bar tender says..

This is also one of my pet peeves! If someone came up to me and said I am hungry---I would give them food---NEVER, EVER MONEY. If you are truly hungry you are going to find work of some sort or are at least going to offer to work for the food. I can't stand it when people panhandle.

The pastor of our church always gets transients coming in and wanting money. He never gives money, but will give food vouchers or gas vouchers and in some cases will ask them to do some type of work (pulling weeds, cleaning, etc.) around the church.

I was in Las Vegas a few years ago with my brother, he is walking out of this mini-mart and this young kid says to him "hey mister, ya got a dollar I can borrow?" My brother says "sorry Son, I don't, but I have an ass-whooping you can have for free!"

Shoot Tammy I rarely leave my neighborhood!LOL
I work 3 minutes from home. I go to work and home... on E all week LOL

I know, It's lousy. I never run the air in my car. BTW, Polly, gas is down to $2.92 in Holland.

Hubby drives 29 miles to work 6 days a week, sometimes 7. We live in a small town that if you blink, you are through it. To get any groceries we have to go to either 10 miles, 17 miles or to Jackson which is 29 miles. I would give anything not to have to leave town to get necessities.

woo hoo! lol

I have a grocery store 1 block away, gas station about 6 blocks, kids school is across the street. I truly love where I live!

The only good thing is here is the kids can walk across our yard and are at school. I can see them out on the playground at recesses.

Lori...I feel you on the food thing, but right now that is a precious commodity to me too!

I have always donated clothing to the service center. It is better than the SA because these clothes are given to people in need rather than sold.

Lori-that is too funny-I would like your brother!! I hear all of you,I give when I can,but times are tough for all of us,with the economy. When I lost my job,lost health insurance,too. Sometimes I pick if I want a prescription or groceries! But got to laugh,This friend of mine gave me some apps for prescription assistance,so I called one of them.Told her my mom who is very ill lives with us as well as my 32 year old son who is on disability. She says we make too much money. I said,"too much money for what?","if we make so much money,how come I can't fill my medicines and get caught up on bills"So since we make so much money,guess I'll go shopping-not :lol: ...Karen

Hey Everybody, I have to agree with Tammy. It makes me nervous when people approach me for money and like Polly says especially when you're by yourself with kids. I think things are truly going to get worse the way this economy is. To many bills and never enough money. I am still paying off gas bill from last winter HAHA. I'll pay it off and start a new one. Thats LIfe. Take Care Everybody. GOD BLESS KYSIDE38

When I was on my way to my attorney's a few weeks back a lady sent her kid in to ask me if he could have a few dollars because they didn't have any money and he needed to get something to eat...I didn't HAVE a few dollars, so I had to say no...

But when I go back to my car, I see (And smokers, do not take offense to this) his mom in the car smoking cigarettes.....Don't those cost at least $3 a pack???? Kroger has Totinos pizzas on sale all the time 99 cents...Not that those things are incredibly healthy, but they'd keep his stomach from feeling completely empty....I bought Ramen noodles at the grocery last weekend for 15 cents each. And she should be thinking about her son before her smoking habit. Some people are ignorant.

No, I don't know her complete story, but holy cow. Sending your child in to beg for money..I could just see it. "Follow that lady in the store and ask her for some money." Gahhhhhh!

Well, you guys should live in Washington DC where there are street people (that's what we call them) pushing their cups out as you walk by asking for change, sleeping anywhere and everywhere, peeing against buildings sidewalks etc. I've had them say nasty things to me if you don't give them money. I never have and never will give them any money. Here they also come up to your car, start washing your windshield when you are stopped at a traffic light. The street people have taken over one beautiful park in DC now all you see are people laying out, washing themselves in the fountains its disgusting!! One street couple was making out on a park bench. I work in DC bud don't live there and I'm glad I don't. DC is a beautiful city if it wasn't for street people on every corner begging. will enough of my venting!!

I know what you mean about DC Oh2benc2...I visited there 5 years ago. It was so gorgeous, and there was so much to do, but we got flashed by someone in the park. Not a nice experience.