Facebook Money Grab

[andreawick]

Have you ever seen anything like this posted on FB? It just cracked me up....

DW and I are looking to go visit family back east and have been searching around for good deals, and it dawned on me that maybe someone out there has unused points/vouchers or anything really that would get us cheaper tickets. If you know of anything please PM me! Thanks

Would you donate your unused points?

I was thinking of donating some "unused cash"

**rolling eyes**

[billisonboard]

[Tennesseer]

No.  But a former co-worker of mine sent out a mass email to everyone on her contact list (and to friends and relatives of friends) announcing the birth of her first grandchild.  She asked for monetary donations/'gifts' to help pay for her grandchild's college fund.

Tacky.

[Deleted]

I have a facebook person who always asks is people have old things (specific, like a printer) sitting around the might want to donate to her, and says she wants to go... Blank, anyone there who wants to put up her family, let them sleep on the floor, etc. 

[Deleted]

I have a former colleague who made this kind of request.  She is at that point in med school where you travel all over the country for interviews for residencies.

I know these interviews are expensive, but I still wouldn't beg.

[Deleted]

I try to keep enough points in our accounts to get us out of town on an emergency basis if needed (parents in their 80s) and am also trying to keep enough points in our AA account for a Business Class ticket to Europe so the short answer is No.

GoFundMe, though, is the ultimate money grab and occasionally I do fall for pitches (which are then reposted on FB).  Last week I donated $100 of the $3,000 someone was trying to raise to get the heck out of CA and move near us, where the husband felt there would be more job opportunities and the COL is a lot more reasonable.  The relationship is pretty tenuous; they're the parents of DH's great-niece by marriage.  GN and her husband had moved to this area last year and we had them over for dinner; I was really impressed with her. She's a hard worker, loves her job, and they just bought a house.  Her parents will live with them till they get settled.  It's pretty sad to be selling your house out to the bare walls and moving in with your kids when you're in your 40s but it sounded like a good plan.  They're at $1,600 and I keep wanting to send more but have decided not to (and DH agrees). 

[midjd]

Last week someone posted in our private FB group that her husband had to work and she didn't want to pay a sitter to watch her kids during practice and "did anyone have someone" who could help out. So either she is looking for someone to babysit for free, or she wants someone else to pimp out their own babysitter (presumably for no extra pay). No responses yet.

[mollyanna58]

Maybe if I had miles that were going to expire before I could use them.  Maybe.  I don't like people asking for things that are just wants.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2015 11:04:19 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Maybe if I had miles that were going to expire before I could use them.  Maybe.  I don't like people asking for things that are just wants.

There are plenty of ways to keep miles from expiring; one purchase through the airline's shopping portal will do it.  I once made a $15 purchase to keep 100K miles in DH's account miles from expiring and later used them for a Business Class ticket when we flew to Madrid.

[cronewitch]

I am pretty hard hearted and don't donate to anything I am not fully knowledgeable about. So I have never donated to gofundme begs no matter how good they sound. I just don't trust them to be true or to have the money go to where it belongs. Take a baby named Noah they raised 6,500 which went to his god mother and none was used for the baby. News article telling about it and they had a new fund set up but when I looked the new fund had been up a long time and raised more than the first one. The baby was hospitalized an hour from home and both parents staying near the baby waiting for a heart and lung transplant. I don't have any reason to believe they even know a baby just because they have pictures of a sick baby. If I knew the family I might want to help but I don't.

I have strangers as facebook friends and many seem very very poor, car not running again needs $75 more to fix it. I have to wonder why nobody who knows them helps them or why they own a car they can't afford to fix after a few weeks of not driving so saving gas money.

[Deleted]

I had a cousin do a Facebook plea and GoFundMe account for a class trip to Japan in high school.  I have no idea how much that netted her, but she did go on the trip.  I know way too much about the situation with her and with her mom (my cousin) and why they're broke to ever have helped out even if I could have. 

[MarleyKeezy78]

I have a girl on fb I went to school with and she is always begging for help or money on fb. I know she is a single mom, but she bitches and complains about every damn thing! She had something like a go fund me set up and was begging people for money so she could move out of her current place (because it had bats) and into a new place, and while I feel bad for her, I thought it was quite telling that she only raised like $80. Leads me to believe she does stuff like this pretty often. She also seems to have many, many car problems and is always begging for rides and such. I know that might come across kinda cold hearted, but I know from experiance that giving lots of help to someone can come back to bit you in the ass. I had to unfriend another girl because I couldn't take her inssesnt begging for someone to come let the dog out twice a day, this many times a week, or who wants to ride around with me while I do my job. There was a ton of other stuff too (like dressing up her frigging dog in costumes all the time and parading it around in public and posting photos alllll the time  ) Weirdo, lol! While it may not sound that bad, one can only take so much drama from one person on fb, I'd like to see something else in my feed!!! 

[greeniis10]

Jan 14, 2015 12:08:25 GMT -5 MarleyKeezy78 said:

I have a girl on fb I went to school with and she is always begging for help or money on fb. I know she is a single mom, but she bitches and complains about every damn thing! She had something like a go fund me set up and was begging people for money so she could move out of her current place (because it had bats) and into a new place, and while I feel bad for her, I thought it was quite telling that she only raised like $80. Leads me to believe she does stuff like this pretty often. She also seems to have many, many car problems and is always begging for rides and such. I know that might come across kinda cold hearted, but I know from experiance that giving lots of help to someone can come back to bit you in the ass. I had to unfriend another girl because I couldn't take her inssesnt begging for someone to come let the dog out twice a day, this many times a week, or who wants to ride around with me while I do my job. There was a ton of other stuff too (like dressing up her frigging dog in costumes all the time and parading it around in public and posting photos alllll the time  ) Weirdo, lol! While it may not sound that bad, one can only take so much drama from one person on fb, I'd like to see something else in my feed!!! 

And, that's why she's in the situation she's in and no one will help her out.  Just an assumption on my part, but I'm going to guess the dog costumes aren't free.  Not going to mention the costs of caring for a dog because I love animals and I just hope it is cared for properly.

[tootsieroll]

That is so tacky to me. I can't believe the nerve of some people.

The day after Christmas, a FB friend started a gofundme for their dog. Asking $7,000 to help with vet costs for a sudden illness. Of course, the day before, there were lots of pictures of the presents under the tree! The dog died several days later, but they are now looking to raise $3000. I think it is ridiculous. I feel bad about the situation, but that is the responsibility you take on when getting a pet. And the same couple then posted pictures of some meals out to eat - how about saving the $50 for your dying dog? And they had a very sick dog a few years ago, yet didn't get insurance for this new puppy. Their failure to be prepared is not my problem.

When my twins were born, the hospital bills alone were 20% of my dh's take home pay. It was not fun paying it off, but that is why we had substantial savings. I didn't start begging people for money.

I do think there are some worthy causes out there, though we only make donations if we personally know the situation.

[MarleyKeezy78]

Jan 14, 2015 13:19:21 GMT -5 greeniis10 said:

Jan 14, 2015 12:08:25 GMT -5 MarleyKeezy78 said:

I have a girl on fb I went to school with and she is always begging for help or money on fb. I know she is a single mom, but she bitches and complains about every damn thing! She had something like a go fund me set up and was begging people for money so she could move out of her current place (because it had bats) and into a new place, and while I feel bad for her, I thought it was quite telling that she only raised like $80. Leads me to believe she does stuff like this pretty often. She also seems to have many, many car problems and is always begging for rides and such. I know that might come across kinda cold hearted, but I know from experiance that giving lots of help to someone can come back to bit you in the ass. I had to unfriend another girl because I couldn't take her inssesnt begging for someone to come let the dog out twice a day, this many times a week, or who wants to ride around with me while I do my job. There was a ton of other stuff too (like dressing up her frigging dog in costumes all the time and parading it around in public and posting photos alllll the time  ) Weirdo, lol! While it may not sound that bad, one can only take so much drama from one person on fb, I'd like to see something else in my feed!!! 

And, that's why she's in the situation she's in and no one will help her out.  Just an assumption on my part, but I'm going to guess the dog costumes aren't free.  Not going to mention the costs of caring for a dog because I love animals and I just hope it is cared for properly.

Sorry, I didn't make a good transtion in my wording, the unfriended person is a different girl    I knew her from a friend and I found her annoying in person. 

ETA: My spelling sucks today! 

[souldoubt]

If we're getting rid of something I'll gladly give it to a friend or family member who needs it but I strongly dislike pleas for help like the one in the OP.  So many people I know who have trouble with their finances are their own worst enemy and make so many poor choices that the rest of us can plainly see.  I'm not going to support those poor choices any more than the tax code requires me to.  I stay off of FB because for the most part I don't care to hear what other people have to say about every mundane detail of their day or life and avoiding stuff like this is just one more benefit.         

[Wisconsin Beth]

Dear YM,
Please help Wisconsin Beth survive this week by sending her a bottle of booze.  Your gracious and generous gifts will enable her to keep on; knowing that when she gets home after a long day of working on spreadsheets, she can have a drink (or 6) before passing out and starting again tomorrow.  Please, help this important cause!
Sincerely,
Beth, her computer and most of all, the poor Excel spreadsheets that she's spent the day mangling. 

[mollyanna58]

Jan 14, 2015 14:23:27 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Dear YM,
Please help Wisconsin Beth survive this week by sending her a bottle of booze.  Your gracious and generous gifts will enable her to keep on; knowing that when she gets home after a long day of working on spreadsheets, she can have a drink (or 6) before passing out and starting again tomorrow.  Please, help this important cause!
Sincerely,
Beth, her computer and most of all, the poor Excel spreadsheets that she's spent the day mangling. 

This is YM.. We don't give stuff away for free.  Try EE for booze.  

[Wisconsin Beth]

Good point.   

[Deleted]

I can't believe how many of you know people who do go fund. I'm glad that hasn't come up yet for me!

[Deleted]

EE doesn't have 'unused' alcohol!

[mollyanna58]

Jan 14, 2015 14:38:16 GMT -5 oped said:

EE doesn't have 'unused' alcohol!

But EEers are willing to share. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 14, 2015 14:57:47 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

Jan 14, 2015 14:38:16 GMT -5 oped said:

EE doesn't have 'unused' alcohol!

But EEers are willing to share. 

We'll share, as long as you show up before we drink it all

[bean29]

Jan 14, 2015 12:08:25 GMT -5 MarleyKeezy78 said:

I have a girl on fb I went to school with and she is always begging for help or money on fb. I know she is a single mom, but she bitches and complains about every damn thing! She had something like a go fund me set up and was begging people for money so she could move out of her current place (because it had bats) and into a new place, and while I feel bad for her, I thought it was quite telling that she only raised like $80. Leads me to believe she does stuff like this pretty often. She also seems to have many, many car problems and is always begging for rides and such. I know that might come across kinda cold hearted, but I know from experiance that giving lots of help to someone can come back to bit you in the ass. I had to unfriend another girl because I couldn't take her inssesnt begging for someone to come let the dog out twice a day, this many times a week, or who wants to ride around with me while I do my job. There was a ton of other stuff too (like dressing up her frigging dog in costumes all the time and parading it around in public and posting photos alllll the time  ) Weirdo, lol! While it may not sound that bad, one can only take so much drama from one person on fb, I'd like to see something else in my feed!!! 

HelloKitty78, I think we may share a FB Friend (just kidding). I only offer emotional support, and refuse to call people on their entitelment attitude stupidity (they won't listen anyways).

[8 Bit WWBG]

Asking costs nothing, right?  Everything to gain, very little to lose.  For all the people that claim to write people like that out of their lives, those people still seem to have plenty of friends.

[Deleted]

Well at least my FB beggar is a little bit subtle. She kept complaining about how much she missed family in another province. It was hurting her heart etc etc. Then she went to visit and thought oh good. Turns out she conned another cousin into paying her plane ticket to go. Even reading she missed them never inspired me to make that offer. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Jan 14, 2015 15:28:07 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

Asking costs nothing, right?  Everything to gain, very little to lose.  For all the people that claim to write people like that out of their lives, those people still seem to have plenty of friends. spectators.

Fixed.

It's the classic "everyone loves a trainwreck" kind of thing. As long as the train isn't on your set of tracks, that is.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 14, 2015 15:12:04 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

Jan 14, 2015 14:57:47 GMT -5 mollyanna58 said:

But EEers are willing to share. 

We'll share, as long as you show up before we drink it all

But I won't get released, um, home (yeah, that's it) until it's done.  You'll have drunk it all by then! 

[Peace Of Mind]

Jan 14, 2015 14:23:27 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Dear YM,
Please help Wisconsin Beth survive this week by sending her a bottle of booze.  Your gracious and generous gifts will enable her to keep on; knowing that when she gets home after a long day of working on spreadsheets, she can have a drink (or 6) before passing out and starting again tomorrow.  Please, help this important cause!
Sincerely,
Beth, her computer and most of all, the poor Excel spreadsheets that she's spent the day mangling. 

Now this one I get and would contribute to! 

[Chocolate Lover]

Jan 14, 2015 15:55:52 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Jan 14, 2015 15:12:04 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

We'll share, as long as you show up before we drink it all

But I won't get released, um, home (yeah, that's it) until it's done.  You'll have drunk it all by then! 

I'll try to slow down a little for ya, but I can't guarantee the other drunks won't beat you to it