Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to expect change from a Big Issue seller

57 replies

TheBigIssues · 07/07/2024 12:35

So yesterday when out in town, and feeling the need to do something good I bought an edition of the Big Issue from a homeless woman, but asked for change.

The magazine was £4 and I paid with a £5 note. She didn't offer any change so I asked for it. She seemed a bit surprised, but quite happily handed over £1.

I mentioned this to my partner and he said it was a bit mean and unreasonable, and ultimately better to let her keep the fiver as she needs the £1 more than I do. He even said it might even be priced at £4 to encourage this behaviour.

What do you all think?

OP posts:
CherryPie09 · 07/07/2024 17:58

Sam0Neil · 07/07/2024 17:53

@CherryPie09 Thanks for posting. How are you doing now? I hope things are better for you.
If you don't mind me asking, how did you move on from selling the Big Issue?
No worries if you would rather not say, just hope you are doing ok.

I started a college course do was getting a bursary and the support staff at the college helped me get a flat. The magazine got me enough money to eat so u was gratful for it. I'm in a much better place now.

Sam0Neil · 07/07/2024 18:00

@CherryPie09 that's good to hear! Well done on your College courses and getting through that horrible time. I wish you lots of good days ahead!

CherryPie09 · 07/07/2024 18:01

Psspsspssssss · 07/07/2024 17:53

£2.50 to £4 - massive jump!
I'm glad you're no longer homeless and presumably, the magazine sales served their purpose?

R.e binning. John Bird aimed to create a high quality magazine that people would actually WANT to buy. Edited by professional journalists etc.
However many people now IME just think the Big Issue is solely filled with article about homelessness etc and you only buy it as a donation. Hence the binning.

Magazines themselves are a dying breed, most people read digital editions these days.

Show quote history

The magazine made me money for food and basics like deodorant but if I'm tbh I think £4 us very steep for it now.

thenightsky · 07/07/2024 18:03

craigth162 · 07/07/2024 15:23

Missing point of thread but £4 for the big issue?! Holy fuck

That's what I thought! I've not bought one since they were 80p and you just gave them a quid and said keep the change.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've even seen a seller on our city streets for about a decade or more.

GoodHeavens99 · 07/07/2024 18:09

Iffx · 07/07/2024 14:33

Doing good things often gets you a smack in the face. Hence the saying “no good deed goes unpunished”. I wouldn’t bother next time.

I say that on a regular basis.

You try to be nice, and this is the thanks you get. 🤷🏻‍♀️

RivkaTheBold · 07/07/2024 18:54

£4?!!!!!

Fucking hell

rookiemere · 07/07/2024 18:57

I thought the whole point of the Big Issue was that the sellers weren't begging, they were selling a product for a cost. Trying to pocket an extra £1 feels awfully close to what they were trying to avoid.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page