Man outside Mcdonalds asking for money!!!

[salsmum]

I went for a scan yesterday and it was confirmed I have very painful gall stones having had no cuppa for 6 hours and little food we stopped at Mcd for a drink n snack....a man was stood outside and approached my DP for money for some food..my DP said he only had a card and later when I asked my DP how much money he showed him in his hand my DP said he said he was 89p short for a meal EVEN THOUGH he clearly had 2 £1 coins in his hand...I myself know what it's like to struggle and at times we still do BUT Aldis was a spit away and even if he wanted a Mcds I'm sure he could have got a drink and small burger for just over £2/£2.50 do you think IABU to say that he should 'cut his cloth accordingly and settled for an alternative to his 'make it large meal?' I thought it was quite cheeky.

There is just not enough info to go on.

You know what? I thought you had a bad moment whenyou started the thread and i gave you the benefit of doubt. But after so many posts you still dont get it and you repeat the same thing : that if YOU went to Aldi then HE should go to Aldi too.
This sounds like those threads : if i cant go to spain why my friend who is on benefits should go, it is not fair, i am now jelous of her'.

What is your problem? You want him to 'budget' like you and shop in Aldi? Bloody hell.

We have a similar situation around the local tesco express. I normally ask them if they want food or a drink, if they ask for money I'm less inclined to give it.

OP If your DH only had a card, he could add a burger and fries to that and not really notice. Times are really tough at the moment, and everyone should help if they can. I accept you can't help everyone but what's 3.00 every now and again.

bobbywash. The op comes across as being nearly as skint as he was, assuming he was actually skint in the first place.

Maryz that's a really good point actually. I read something recently about someone who had become homeless despite having a job (something to do with needing to move house quickly, not getting his deposit back then something falling through). He said it was things like having to use a launderette which is more costly anyway but then not getting change back from the machines which increased cost plus having to buy a sachet of soap powder each time as he had nowhere to store a cheap box. Similarly, he couldn't buy a sack of potatoes because he had nowhere to store or cook them so he'd buy a cooked jacket potato for the same price instead. It was a really eyeopener - just how much the sheer inconveniences associated with homelessness make even the cheapest things expensive. Eventually he got back on his feet, but not alone.

Theodorous
While I understand where you're coming from I personally won't give money to the alcoholics. I can seldom afford to buy beer/wine for myself so I'm not going to facilitate their drinking.
I will and do often buy them food, in winter I make them hot soup.

I don't know what I'd have done in the same situation OP, probably would have just given him £1 or what change I had.

OP I agree with you, who wants to be hassled for money. Someone said they gave money to a pregnant woman in New York who slept under scaffolding. This person was well known for parting fools, and gullible tourists, from their money. Cuntbake, I don`t think the OPs response was angry in any way!

It's the gall stones giving you bile

Last week a woman came over to me asking for money and launched into a story about how her boyfriend had hit her and took all her money, apparently she needed a bus. I said where too, she named somewhere less than a mile away. I gave her £2 though just in case she had something that made her unable to walk, however she strolled off in the opposite direction from the bus station, without a thankyou. She stank of booze too.

I guess whether I felt he should cut his cloth accordingly would largely depend on whether I believed he was homeless or not. If my instinct said that he was homeless and in need then I'd be more inclined to be generous and give him a bit (seeing as I'd figure he could probably do with the food - though actually health wise agree with you that Aldi would prob be a bit better for him than McDs). If my instincts said he was trying one on then I'd figure he could make do with what he had. You're the one who was there and met him, I'm guessing from your reactions that you didn't believe him to be homeless and in genuine need. You might've been wrong but it was your call to make, I don't see the point in us second guessing you.

I also frequent an area on occasion which highly discourages giving money to people in the street. In fact they did a news story and without exception the 20 or so people they 'followed' were either using the money for their addictions, had homes when they were telling people they were homeless, etc.

Still though it just goes against the grain to feel comfortable with this idea of just passing people by. I am going to be in that area in the next few weeks. I am going to have small bags of granola bars and fruit made up to offer if I'm asked. I know one poster had a problem with that because they were healthy snacks but I still feel some food would be better than nothing, they wouldn't have to eat it right then if they wanted a hot meal at that moment. It just goes against my grain if someone is hungry, not to feed them if I can. Whilst I do not often carry cash on me, this is something that I can offer.

Whilst Aldi's yes might be a more sensible choice - realistic it is not. Fwiw if the bloke wanted a bigger burger = more filling = less begging I would have taken him inside and bought him one if I had the money. I can actually see the practicality of such a move if it would mean that would tide then over longer and they would have to beg one time less that day. I don't see it as cheeky at all, not all people can see the forest so to speak.

Why shouldnt a homeless person have a dog. Ok itd another mouth to feed but may be the only friend/protection they have

Why do people always assume its for drugs?
You'd not get much heroin around here for 3 quid and so what if it is for heroin, addicts can't just decide to stop and that's it!!

So because some middle class person decides to choose what they get instead of cash they will stop being an addict/alcob

Alcoholic? No chance. Sometimes people just want money

(gatecrashing to say to Grobags - I hope you are doing as well as you can in the circumstances - there are lots of people on mn thinking about you)

Haha theodorus - love it

Yes Theodorus sometimes people do just want money but if I gave the alcoholic money (which I don't for reasons stated above) he's not going to put food in his stomach is he when faced with money in his hand - alcohol will win. Likewise when I've bought a few of them cheap hats and gloves in the winter.
Of course, with whatever money they do get they're free to make their own choices in what to buy. Of course it won't stop them being alcohol depandant but I'm not going to facilitate it, that's all.
I'm not middle class btw - very much working class for what it's worth.

I can't stand arguments like this. Some people have no humanity or compassion. He was obviously down on his luck- I would have helped him personally. And I don't care what he spends it on either. Fwiw I think people that 'won't facilitate alcohol' or whatever are holier than thou compassionless morons. Sorry.

About a year ago, my sons school did a 'rough sleep' night to raise money for the homeless in the borough - the boys had to bring boxes to sleep in & nothing else. More importantly, it raised awareness of homelessness in our area ( which is on the increase ) & will ( hopefully ) instil compassion in my son. our school raised quite a lot of money for local charities which was fantastic. On a personal note, I always give what I can to a homeless person, my heart literally breaks when I see people sleeping in shop doorways, & even if they spend the money on drink or drugs, I can't just ignore them. They're not living that life for the fun of it.

So, he was in a white shirt? He was obviously desperate, what ever his housing situation.

Can you even imagine the humiliation of standing at McDonald's with your hand out? :(