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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think £1 doesn't get you much these days

60 replies

soyvanillalatte · 04/08/2016 08:12

I was in town, about to start my shopping, and walked past a young homeless man who was sitting on the pavement surrounded by his belongings. He looked up to smile and I grabbed a pound out of my pocket and gave it to him saying "Morning, maybe you can get yourself a cup of coffee. Sorry it's not much".
The pound was all of the loose change I had in the pocket but as I walked away, I started to feel bad and wondered if I had just given him a "useless" amount of money. I feel like I have insulted him, I felt so guilty.
Can £1 get much in the way of something to eat or drink of any value these days?
AIBU to think he may not have been able to even get a cuppa?

OP posts:
DonaldTrumpTriggersSJWlol · 04/08/2016 08:14

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EndofSummerLooming · 04/08/2016 08:14

Two giant cookies from saisburys, litre of milk, Cpl pieces of fruit.

Depends if he gets another £ in a few minutes/

ThoraGruntwhistle · 04/08/2016 08:17

Hopefully a few more people would've done the same. Not everyone can afford to give out notes, I certainly couldn't, and coins do add up so I don't think a pound is a useless amount.

Birdsgottafly · 04/08/2016 08:17

It depends on where you live.

When I'm around our town, I see 'street dwellers', being handed regular food and drink.

I also know that there are Charities regularly giving out food/drink. As well as places that you can go and get food.

Even if you didn't give him 'enough', someone else will make up the difference.

OwlinaTree · 04/08/2016 08:19

Look up crisis or shelter on line and see the support they give. Donations to them would probably help more tbh.

puppydogmummy · 04/08/2016 08:19

You can get a sandwich in the pound shop!

mouldycheesefan · 04/08/2016 08:21

Can definitely get a can of cheap lager for that.

EnterNicknameHere · 04/08/2016 08:23

There's a pound bakery in our town.

cheminotte · 04/08/2016 08:25

You can't get a posh coffee in Starbuck's but you can get a cup of tea in a greasy spoon.

Helenluvsrob · 04/08/2016 08:29

99p coffee in pret.

Quite a range of food type items in pound land - crisps / bread rolls/ cakes / biscuits etc

SweatyBettyHelp · 04/08/2016 08:32

Judgy comments on here ffs educate yourself and look at all the factors leading to homelessness in the UK might open your eyes and make you a tad more sympathic

Dutchcourage · 04/08/2016 08:32

Two large meet and potato pies from pound bakery!

Original poster
soyvanillalatte · 04/08/2016 08:32

It's like when I found out the big issue is £2.50.
I used to just give the big issue sellers a pound and then opt out of taking the magazine thinking they were a pound .

OP posts:
Original poster
soyvanillalatte · 04/08/2016 08:33

Thanks for above re what he could have bought. I don't feel so tight now!

OP posts:
confusedofengland · 04/08/2016 08:33

I think Pret a Manger does a coffee for around that amount. Also McDonald's.

If he were to go to the supermarket with £1 he could get a loaf of bread, some milk & a piece of fruit, for example. Smile

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 04/08/2016 08:37

Homelessness charities generally advise against giving money to beggars. There are much better ways to help.

Original poster
soyvanillalatte · 04/08/2016 08:41

On the other hand, I didn't give any money to the young lady asking for money for "the squaddies". She had a few wrist bands and a photocopied "id" in a plastic cover on a lanyard around her neck. Are these legit?

OP posts:
littleprincesssara · 04/08/2016 08:45

I always get them food or a soft/hot drink.

A pound! I remember when you get get 10 Freddos for that!

NameChanger22 · 04/08/2016 08:54

For a pound you could buy 1 kilo of cheap rice, a cheap loaf of bread and a tin of beans or veg. This could feed someone for 3 days at least if they were desperate.

I don't agree with the idea that it is bad to give to people who are desperate for money. If they didn't need it they wouldn't ask. If they spend it on drugs, then that's up to them. But the most I've ever given is £5.

DonaldTrumpTriggersSJWlol · 04/08/2016 08:55

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OwlinaTree · 04/08/2016 08:58

What would be the point of a homeless person buying a kilo of rice?

brummiesue · 04/08/2016 08:59

Sorry but what is a homeless man going to do with a kg of rice Hmm

icouldabeenacontender · 04/08/2016 09:01

Do you really not know what you can buy with £1?
Obviously not a soyvanillalatte.

thecatsarecrazy · 04/08/2016 09:03

He could get 2 cold drinks in Poundland, or a sandwich, a drink packet of crisps and a chocolate bar, pack of sausage rolls, a pasty.

overthehillandroundthemountain · 04/08/2016 09:04

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