Sad that people think everything should be handed to them. You do what you can and if they do not appreciate, that is their problem. You have to worry about you and your kids. You are doing great!

@rabbit8 : ok so you just wayyy overcomplicated the situation, lol.

@rabbit8 : That's your perception. Not saying that your perception is incorrect, but I perceive it as being a mooch when one begs for money just for the sake of getting "tax-free" money off of someone else. Begging for it and getting it does not equate to earning it. But everybody has their opinion and not everybody is raised with the same values. Whatever .............

No I don't think you're horrible, it's just your choice.

@DaycareMom :Could be, or maybe not...But either way, people give for themselves not necessarily the recipient....

@DaycareMom : You are not a bad person. You are a kind and generous person. You are also smart. There are so many scams out there these days. People taking advantage of other kind souls. Yes there are some people that legitimately need help but like you said they need to help themselves first. I don't mind helping people out as long as they are willing to help themselves out. What does bother me is people asking for handouts when they aren't willing to help themselves. I'm like you, there have been times that I have worked three jobs because I needed money to pay bills. Hell I used to take home the left over food my customers didn't want when I worked at Carrabbas because I didn't have money for groceries some months. If they had two slices of leftover pizza that they weren't going to take home I would take it home. Or if they had one leftover cheese stick or they hadn't touched their side of vegetables that was on a separate plate I would take it home. (I never ate off their plates it was always left over food on a serving plate that they didn't want) but I was hungry and just grateful for food.

I follow my heart & I don't expect anything from the person I gave to . If I gave to someone that was taking advantage of me I know God will judge that person & he doesn't need help from me . We have charities we give to . But I give to others also . One day getting out the car a woman with a baby on her hip & high as a kite told me she needed money to get milk for her baby . I figured she was a liar . So I told her sure , but we'll have to go inside the drug store so I can use my credit card because I don't have cash on me . She walked away from me . So I was right about her . Had she gone in I' d have bought all kinds of stuff for that baby .

@bbk : I would have done it that way as well. It's just an extra needed step for those who want to give and not want to be taken. I love to help people out when I can but I have to have the mindset to commit myself just a little more than a simple handout. Go just a little further like you did with that "high as a kite" woman.

@DaycareMom : No.

@Andi7 : I was leaving Star Furniture years ago . You get to 1960 where you are going to turn left & head back to Humble . At that light there are constant people begging for money . I have never given them money . But just down 196o I saw a man holding up a sign asking for food . Some how in the blink of an eye my eyes met his & he looked so very sad . I couldn't turn & go back I was in a rush to get home . I felt awful the entire way home . I knew the right thing for me to have done was to help him . That's the very day I concluded for me I had to listen to my heart .