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?

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:07pm
No, not around me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2007
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:10pm

I agree that a lot of junk sold on EBay and at garage sales probably came from thrift shops. Makes my clothing donations to non-profits which were intended for the poor and destitute kind of a waste.

But I'm sure the sellers on EBAY and at garage sales make generous annual donations to charities for the homeless and destitute though.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:10pm
lololol!!! Some of my daughter's clothes have to be thrown out at the end of the season because she is so rough on them and her shoes. She is also very artistic so there is always some kind of stain on her shirts. After awhile, I just have to throw them out when they come out of the wash. That is why I shop sales because I can't afford to constantly buy expensive things that are going to be ruined anyway.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:10pm

not convincing. lol. charity/thrift shops are not for profit. meaning,they're not in business to make a profit. if they do at the end of the day,month,week,quarter. fantastic. but that's not their goal....the one i'm speaking of here is operating because of a 35K grant that allowed it's doors to open to the less advantaged many years ago. and it continues to accept monetary donations from people who expect *nothing* in return.

maybe you think *shopping* there suffices as a donation. i don't.




Edited 1/31/2007 2:19 pm ET by egd3blessed

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:11pm
Well I can't see how if the middle-class are buying constantly so they can save money. Alot of places you "give" your clothes to are not even actually using them. They are turning them into rags to re-sell.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:15pm
LOL, I know several millionaires who shop at thrift stores/yard sales/rummage sales. Their main reason is not to save money but to left a smaller foot print on the planet. Plus, in this day and age, being a millionaire (net worth over $1M) is well within middle class in many of the higher COL areas of our country.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:15pm

Which kids aren't getting sufficient activity to wear out play clothes by the end of the season?

1)Many kids OUTGROW clothes before it's even possible for them to be worn out.

2)Many kids (certainly mine) play favorites with their clothes. They will wear a few beloved outfits into the ground (these do not get donated) while the others get far less wear comparatively (and are then donated).

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:17pm

Its not taking anything away from the needy. Do you understand where the majority of the profit from thrift shops goes? Its not like the salvation army keeps that money for themselves.

dj

Dj

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

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:19pm
If your kids wear out their clothes in a season, you need to upgrade the quality of clothes you are buying.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 2:20pm
I am not worried about the profit. These stores were originally opened for underpriveleged people who needed help with buying clothing for their families. I don't see why it turned into a place for the middle or upper class.

Pages