Period poverty

[ChocolateAndMoreChocolate]

AIBU to remind you period poverty exists?

Came on this morning, did not have any sanitary items. Asked my DM to send me £5 until payday (Friday). She could only PayPal so I tried to withdraw the funds and I’m on a 72 hour wait!

So no view of having sanitary items for 3 days... and now I also hate pay pal

I have been skint before and you have to manage wilko do cheap pads. 27p. Aldis are brilliant 48p. I have more money now but still use aldi pads and tampons. Ask some to lend you 50p. Or use a food bank. Do you have a baby, u can always use a nappy if your desperate.

It’s £5. I can easily afford it. It really doesn’t matter to me there’s a chance it’s a scam

Right and that's fine. How many fivers are you willing to send to every scammer who will avalanche the place if they think it's easy pickings? Will we just give them your username so they can cut out the gullible and message you direct?

OP, flannels are good for this if you can't afford sanitary wear. Or ask your mother to transfer money direct to the bank or verify your bank account with PayPal.

I hate when people use internet access as some kind of proof the OP is not as skint as they claim.

You do know internet is 1) no longer a luxury but a necessity and 2) makes things cheaper.

Most benefits need to be applied for online. Ditto jobs. Online shopping is often cheaper than getting a bus/taxi to and from the supermarket. If you're in a small town shoes/clothes/toiletries will be much cheaper online than in one of the three shoe shops within walking distance. Schools regularly give homework online and use email to send out important information.

Using the internet as a stick to beat people with when they're skint is a bit like claiming they can't be struggling because they have power in their home.

Right and that's fine. How many fivers are you willing to send to every scammer who will avalanche the place if they think it's easy pickings? Will we just give them your username so they can cut out the gullible and message you direct?

Lol do what you want.

Period poverty is a cause very close to my heart, there’s a charity I volunteer with hence why I’m willing to help.

Feel free to pass my name on though and I’ll say no. Which will make it a touch of a waste of your time, but you do you

@momomia

Not helping someone in need when you are able to says everything about yours. Be kind recklessly.

Plenty of people have been helping and advising the OP ... Almost everyone actually. With advice on where to get financial help and advice (and sanpro.)

You don't have to throw cash at them to 'help' them.

And where did you pick that up from anyway? Was it a pun from a poundland Christmas cracker???

If you choose to wire a fiver or a tenner to a random person on the internet you don't know, OR give it to a stranger on the street, that doesn't make you any better than a person who chooses to help and assist in other ways, and not throw money at people.

So step down off your high horse.

Send me your bank details and I’ll send you the money OP. I can’t think of anything worse.

Where are you @ChocolateAndMoreChocolate? Perhaps if on here lives local to you they can pop some in your letter box

*someone on here

Period poverty is a cause very close to my heart, there’s a charity I volunteer with hence why I’m willing to help

Which exactly what the OP was counting on by starting the thread on a predominately female forum.

Which exactly what the OP was counting on by starting the thread on a predominately female forum

Cool. You can bang on about it all you like, as MNHQ said, don’t give more than you can afford. I would rather be taken in for the sake of small change then not offer to help someone who may be in need.

Right fair enough could be a scam but I can send her £1 surely? I feel stupid for not thinking

Unfortunately a lot of people on here have been burnt by an OP posting about desperately needing something that is particularly sensitive to other women (e.g. can't feed children, run out nappies etc), sending them money and then realising they are one of 100's doing the same thing, never to hear from OP again.
OP hasn't even returned to the thread.

I was about to offer when I saw you had @JacquesHammer, you’re a kind and thoughtful woman. I’d rather be “scammed” than allow someone to be short of basic necessities too.

Send me your bank details and I’ll send you the money OP. I can’t think of anything worse

I can think if plenty of worse things.

Bet OP’s into at least 3 figures by now.

Bet OP’s into at least 3 figures by now

Yeah that £15 that’s been offered on thread is really living the high life

Rags/homemade pads don't always cope with heavy flows, and I am very into eco stuff. Not everyone can use a mooncup.

I still forget to buy tampons etc despite having needed them for 30+ years so with tight budgeting or just everyday life it can be easy to forget.

Can you access a food bank OP?

There must be other options than strangers giving money over the internet.

Also there is such a thing a cheap phone and broadband (BT Basic) if you are on certain qualifying means tested benefits and is somewhat essential since the gov force you to do UC and so many things online now, and lots of people don't have a local library. Its £9.95 month inc line rental and some calls. Hardly an extravagance.

Cool. You can bang on about it all you like, as MNHQ said, don’t give more than you can afford. I would rather be taken in for the sake of small change then not offer to help someone who may be in need

And telling the dudes of the scamming world what actually works on here to con people out of money while you're on. You might be able to afford it but there are kind people who can't who will want to help. Big picture ffs

Oh I’m sure there’s been plenty of PMs sent too.

I've cut up hand towels / bath towels before now, they are perfectly comfortable if cut into a foot square and then folded.

@JacquesHammer you sound absolutely lovely, but you need to realise that even if a post only has 20 replies, it's likely to have had 1000's of readers. It only takes a fraction of those to DM the OP directly for them to have amassed a tidy little sum.
Unfortunately this has happened on here too many times before.

You might be able to afford it but there are kind people who can't who will want to help

So offer to help in other ways

Big picture

Common sense ffs

you sound absolutely lovely, but you need to realise that even if a post only has 20 replies, it's likely to have had 1000's of readers. It only takes a fraction of those to DM the OP directly for them to have amassed a tidy little sum

I do realise. It’s just not a big deal for me.

I’d rather send a few quid and it not be genuine. If people are sending more than they can afford that’s their lookout.

Common sense ff

Yes, find some please.

Banking apps now have a send money by mobile phone option. Then you just put a pin in at the atm and get the money. Can your mum send another 5?
I remember being young and going into a food bank type charity and being told they wouldn't give me a pad. I think it was because I'd had a food voucher a month before and they wouldn't help the same person more than once. I had heavy periods too so walking around bleeding through toilet paper wasn't pleasant. I had no idea where else to access assistance. I sympathise.

How lovely that so many people here are so concerned about how others spend their money. What skin is it off your collective noses?