Cash Crisis/MN Handouts

[BawdyStrumpet]

Sorry if I am speaking out of turn, but recently I have noticed a rash of cash crisis threads. I know that times are hard for many, but I do worry where the line is drawn on MN between venting, asking for budgeting advice, and begging. Lovely MNetters do step in to help out I know. But I really, really think we need to have some rules on this. ie it is maybe it is fine to donate clothes/school uniform etc and help out where we can. Otherwise people should seriously be discouraged from sending cash/shopping to people they don't know from Adam.

If these posters are on benefits, they might even get into trouble for receiving cash payments. Or, posters can have threads deleted so you might not realise they have already had several threads asking for similar. If people get a whiff that there is profit to made, there will only be more and more of these threads. I hate the idea that kind hearted MNetters get taken advantage of.

I have no issue with donations to genuine charities ie via Just Giving, or collections for Woolly Hugs, but I really do think that MN should not be about handing over cold hard cash to people on the internet. I am sure that this kind of thing was never intended when MN was set up...

Bolly! Bolly?

I posted on a past "you know you're skint" thread. I had a lovely offer via email which I turned down - I am skint by a lot of peoples standards but in the grand scheme of things I am actually doing ok. I can't imagine ever accepting an offer on here, I'm honestly suprised people do.

I was broke at Christmas and my son broke his favourite toy. Someone somewhere (through fb) sent me an anonymous tenner to replace it. I was overwhelmed but also felt guilty that I'm not on bread and water here. So I spent a little extra on my mn secret Santa :-)

Maybe we could build on the secret Santa idea?

I am amazed anyone would offer money to another poster on here. Most people don't know each other from Adam.

Thanks TheLightPassenger I agree with the clothes and the such as if you have something that you no longer need then why not pass things along. xx

Except I know Adam, AMother. He's my son.

What is the difference between this and the secret santa, do mnhq go and personally check every single person on the secret santa to make sure they are sufficiently genuinely skint - if not I dont see that much difference? people have a choice, if they want to give then i think its fine for them to do that, and just a warning to be careful with it, should be fine
Noone is forced to give anything

no one is compelled to give monies tbh mnhq can't regulate
frankly if one gives then there is IMO a leap of faith and strong chance things aren't kosher

there are local authority sw crisis loans and benefit loans.yes they are paperwork,yes they ask questions.but that's the check and balance

there are charities,churches etc give food
there are food banks that GP,hv,sw can refer clients to

I never have,and never will directly give monies on mn

I've asked for vodka donations many times ,no one ever sends me any though...

But, firawla Secret Santa isn't just for the skint. Anyone can nominate any MNetter for any reason. Even just because they think they are a nice person.

MNetters are truly a nest of vipers then, Usual.

You can't self nom for ss

individuals can apply for social fund or crisis loan,must be paid back
self referral is bulk of the applicants

in the unlikely event I have spare vodka to rehome, I'll put you to the top of my list usual, promise

scottish, Fanjo meant Secret Santa, I think, not Social Services.

Hope:

After TWR thread it has always harshly reminded me that anyone can write anything on the net true or not. HQ reminding people to not give money is no bad thing.

It will always happen though, some try it more than once too.

You can self nominate for secret santa too

I don't think you could last year but could previously......which of course brings me to tge fact tgat ss gets caught up in this too. Come sept/oct anyone who starts a thread moaning gets comments they are angling for a ss nomination.

Can I just say about MN Christmas appeal, or secret Santa...

I don't know if you can nominate yourself anymore, you used to BA able to but....

The difference is that the spread of the donations is controlled centrally, so you don't have one person getting loads of pp donations.

we got sent some lovely secret santa gifts many moons ago, it made out day

very generous and unexpected

I think everyone knows they take a risk when sending something on MN. I have sent fairly substantial things on the past and never received a thank you. I didn't do it for the thank you at the time but thinking back it would have been nice. I have also given a large food parcel to someone on here who had no money whom I met in person and who was extremely grateful. I prefer to take people on trust and if I get fleeced it's my own fault. Have just been packaging up various bits and pieces to send to people on the I have x thread. If I am fleeced out of some second hand uniform, kids bedding and curtains its really not the end of the world but I will know that I tried to help someone when things are comparatively easy for us.

agree
so long as you make informed choice that is act of goodwill based on someone uncorroborated post

i give my stuff to hv, she has caseload and knows needy recipients