Why should I support someone else?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
Why should I support someone else?
4426
Sat, 12-30-2006 - 1:24pm

Let me start by saying that I"m new here so this may have already been discussed, but this has come up in my office several times and I wanted to get some other views of this.

I do payroll for a rather small company so I know most of the workers and their wives (most of the workers are men due to the nature of our business). There are two in particular who's wives SAH. These two are up to their eyeballs in debt. I have bill collectors constantly calling for them. That part is really their business, it is annoying but I enjoy being rude back to the bill collectors, lol.

The part that bothers me is that both wives have been in the office wanting copies of X amount of check stubs so that they can go and get public assistance (I know because they told me that is what it is for)! Why should my tax money go so that these women can SAH? I know that not all families that one parent stays at home are like this, but I know lots that are. Heck, growing up we were always broke because my mother refused to work, but we weren't on any public assistance.

So, why should I pay for a woman to SAH? Why can't she go and get a job to support her family just like anyone else?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 12:48pm
I am speaking of clothes that have been worn over and over again and maybe not even washed and then sold. I understand that people might have tried on clothes before I buy them, that is why they are washed first before I wear them. There is a big difference. Most items in the outlet that I shop do not stay on the shelf for very long so I am not worried about tons of people trying them on.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 12:48pm
Spare me. You don't have to show your tax forms to shop at thrift stores, garage sales, church basement sales. When you donate to Salvation Army, Goodwill, St Vincent's, wherever, yes, you are helping the poor no matter who gets the used blue jeans, because they hire and train the poor to work in the stores, because the profits are poured into soup kitchens, etc. I work a church basement sale every year, and I know that before the goods even get to the public, different agencies come and are allowed first pick. We work with one that outfits farm workers in central america -- they take most of the men's blue jeans and work boots and you never see them on sale. We work with another agency that settles refugees. They bring families in who have vouchers and get first pick on furniture and dishes and what not -- before the goods are ever offered to the general public. We work with another agency that supplies "interview clothes" for women who are completing job training programs. They get first pick on professional clothes. The system actually depends in most places on the general public being willing to come and get the stuff the agencies and their clients don't want or need. We're the millionaire next door and I buy almost everything used -- because I can't see spending more money than I need to on anything, and because I also can't see wasting resources to make new clothes when there are plenty of good used clothes available.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 12:49pm
you're absolutely right. you never really know what you're buying when you choose used retail and thrift........and i'd rather my donations go to less advantaged people for them to buy for a buck than me shop there for bargains i'd basically be taking away from them.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:03pm

I am an experienced thrift store shopper. There is lots of worn, soiled crap in thrift stores, but there is lots of excellent condition, high quality clothing there as well. If you don't want to shop at thrift stores, don't - but son't delude yourself into thinking that the clothes that come from regular stores don't potentially have just as many "cooties" as those from thrift stores.

Do you bring your own sheets when you go to a hotel, too?

Carrie

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:15pm

You do realize that a good portion of the money made at thrift shops *does* go to charity, right? So the poor are still getting the benefit of the money no matter who buys the items.

Dont you shop on ebay? Thats basically a big garage sale.

Dj

"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:16pm
Excellent post!

Dj

"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:19pm

Me too. I've gotten some amazing deals at thrift stores and garage sales over the years. Not just for my kids but also for myself-and I am complimented on a regular basis on my clothes and style, lol, not to mention my home decor-much of which is second hand.

Heck, we have a couple stores that get overstock from stores-clothes with the tags still on them.

Dj

"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:21pm
So in otherwords, you are making an assumption about the people who shop there without really knowing for sure. Thats nice.

Dj

"Now when I need help, I look in the mirror" ~Kanye West~

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-13-2004
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:25pm

I have some very nice older pieces that came from my Grandmothers home. Some we stripped and restained and saome we left as is. It is hard to find well made furniture that is not extraordinaril expensive. I would rather have a few nice pieces than waste my money on junk furniture.

Karen

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Tue, 01-30-2007 - 1:38pm

i realize that as does a lot of their walk in business benefit the poor,homeless and abused. our county womens&childrens (public) shop gives away or sells clothes anywhere from .50 to a couple dollars a piece...i know that because i spend volunteer time sorting clothes and tagging them. some of which are really nice pieces. but those items are for those needy families to come in and shop for,not me to take from them.

and yes i'm a very picky buyer *and* seller on ebay. lol....not sure i'd compare ebay to charity unless i designate a contribution when i'm selling.




Edited 1/30/2007 1:41 pm ET by egd3blessed

 

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