AIBU to “steal” this?

[AmiABadPersonn]

Hello everyone I just want your opinions on this as today I’ve been in a heated argument with my friend as to wether I am unreasonable or not.

I am off work on maternity leave so the funds are tight at minute. There is a man who lives near me I believe he is drug user, he sells half price stuff and also takes orders on what you want for half price. He knocks on my house about 1 or 2 times a week with a bag of half price goods. I always buy washing detergent and softeners from him because you can get a whole weeks laundry of the nice brands for around £10. Money is tight as I have just had a baby and I have 2 other children with my husband also. i also sometimes get baby milk formula from him if I’m running low because it’s cheap.

I feel like this is not wrong because if I didn’t buy it other people would. Even if no one bought it he would steal it anyway in hopes someone would buy it eventually.

Today my friend was at my house when he came so I offered her to have a look what he had. She immediately asked him where he got this stuff from and he replied “shop”. She didn’t say much after but when I finished buying my items she started shouting about how I’m funding his drugs addiction and I shouldn’t support it because I am now stealing too. I told her to relax it’s fine it’s only a couple of items. She didn’t say much and finished her coffee and left quick.

So am I morally wrong for this? Or would you do the same?

I wouldn't have people like this around my house. Not judging.

Do you have children? That would worry me personally.

Like a thought crime ?

A thought crime is just that - thoughts. There is no thought crime in this context. It's actual crime.

How is he the lowlife and the OP who’s buying stolen goods not. I bet OP wouldn’t let her kids play with his, although they are all part of the same circle.

If OP can’t even afford milk, why is she on her third child? As MJ said ‘if you can’t feed the baby, then don’t have the baby’.

Sounds like one of them who continually make poor choices then complain about being ‘left behind’.

Don’t know where to start with this.

It's still not ok to steal from them...and we all pay for shoplifting in raised prices caused by losses and the extra cost of security. Shop lift from Tescoes and you steal from me, basically.

I know its tough and I have been a single parent before and my priority was my child. I worked 3 jobs to make ends almost meet and went without proper meals for myself. I would never do this, what if this very same drug addict one day sells drugs to your child, because you funded his habit by selling stolen goods. Good luck getting out of this though as he has you exactly where he wants you now. You are in the eyes of the law aiding him

£40 a month on cleaning supplies does not equate to anywhere near bone of arse!

How on earth is op spending so much ?

I think all the posters supporting the OP have poor reading comprehension skills.

That's a bit of a personal question, don't you think?

Not really? It's an anonymous forum and you brought it up.

So you think it's reasonable for me to outline my mother's personal and financial circumstances? I'll pass. Thanks tho.

Then don't? No one has a gun to your head. But don't get affronted at being asked on an anonymous forum where you brought it up in the first place.

Yes, that's why I said no, I won't be doing that. It's still fucking rude to ask in the first place. There are dozens of reasons someone might not be able to survive without this kind of help - none of which are good - but sure, let's ask people to talk about them with strangers.

Rude. And oblivious, actually.

How is it rude? You.brought.it.up.

If you don't want to talk about it, don't bring it up!

I feel like I'm explaining very basic manners to you here, but if a stranger tells you they left their husband, do you feel it's appropriate to ask them why because they brought it up?

Just because someone tells you something, doesn't mean it's okay to pry.

I feel like I'm explaining a very basic concept to you that when you bring up something on a discussion forum, people may ask you questions. It's your right to answer or not to answer, but to get affronted at being asked is just plain weird.

Ah, so you simply have no grasp of politeness. My mistake.

As you were.

I absolutely love how people are turning this into a discussion about money… Yet OP herself said in her post that she gets ‘the nice brands’ from him. Hahaha! If you’re actually tight on money, go to Aldi or Lidl where you can buy a huge box of laundry detergent granules for less than you’re spending on the criminal; and the box will probably last you 6 months. I don’t think OP’s post has anything to do with money actually, I think it’s everything to do with greed and she’s just trying to get people to feel sorry for her and tell her she’s still a good person even though she’s engaging in criminal activity🙄

This

You're knowingly buying stolen goods to fund a drug habit...yes that's wrong

Exactly.

Yes and the big brands make the laundry products for the supermarkets anyway! It’s the same stuff.

We are not on a low income and still buy supermarket own brand.

I'm surprised nobody has piped up "If you see someone stealing baby formula...no you didn't" yet. That used to be the standard sanctimonious refrain on any type of stealing threads.

This thread shows how ridiculous it is, because the vast majority of the time it's not desperate people with their own babies to feed, it's scumbags like OPs mate who knows exactly what they can sell on quickly.

I used to be surprised at some of the things that had security tags on them compared to more expensive items that didn't before I realised that it's less about the cost (i.e. someone who desperately needs a comparatively expensive item that can't afford it) than about how easy items are to a) steal and b) sell on.