I have had, in the past month, four people send me emails or facebook invites asking for funds for various reasons.. One was for someone wanting to raise funds for a show he plans to put on later in the year (and said in the invite that there is a possibility the show may not happen but he wants to be prepared for) one from a so-called friend (more like an acquaintance) asking for funds so he can do a course to get a better job, one from a friend of a friend asking to donate funds so she can go to Vegas for a convention so she can “connect” with the community up there and another from a friend asking for funds as her cat got hurt, she’s in school and needs funds to pay the vet bills.
Now I am all for giving.. I give regularly to the salvation army as I know they help people in need (they have helped friends and family of mine in the past when they were down) but people seem to these days ask for money and wont do the work (or the savings) themselves. And I was reading about a new trend starting in North America where people are having parties to raise funds to pay for weddings (this on top of expecting to help pay for the bachelorette/bachelor party, and cough up money for a present for the couple)..
WTF people. I have been down in the dumps many times (not that bad that I needs Salvos aid or anything) but never have I asked people for funds to help me pay for whatever. Even when I had to fork out money for a immigration lawyer I never asked anyone to donate money to “poor little old me”. Sure I got a loan but I am paying that off as quickly as possible (only two more payments to be exact)..
So I have only donated money to one and the reasons for each are as follows:
1. Raise funds for shows – I have worked with and know many producers here in the city, through my stage work and the BF’s band and my theory on that is if you can’t afford to put on
the show or willing to accept the risk of possibility of losing money on a show you want to put on, then don’t be a producer. Leave it to the professionals. And if the show doesn’t happen do I get my money back – denied
2. Money for a course – so you can’t save up like the rest of us to pay for a course for work.
I worked hard for my money and you should to. Yes getting that course done will help you get a better job but there are other ways, like a loan.. don’t think you can get something for nothing - denied
3. Money for Vegas – you have got to be kidding me. If you think I am going to give you my money for you to get a free holiday for a convention you are not even involved in you have another think coming, seriously I can save for a holiday and so can you – denied
4. Money for vet – ok I gave money to my friend for this. She is in school studying, working part time and some dick hit her cat and then drove off. I understand
pets are like family and she did have some savings but not enough to cover the
entire bill. So I did give her $10.00 for the cause with a word of warning to perhaps think about getting pet insurance - accepted.
As for the trend of people having fundraising parties for their weddings.. WTF.. if you can’t afford the wedding you want, postpone it save some more and have it later. If people
think I would go to this party, give you money, AND help pay for a bachelorette/bachelor party AND buy you a present for your wedding then you are on crack. If I ever get invited to
something like this I will give them money as their wedding gift and make sure that’s it. I of course would chip in for the bachelorette/bachelor party but only to make sure the bride or groom don’t have to pay for themselves. That’s the tradition I was brought up on and ill only give what I can afford.
Hey don’t get me wrong I am all for giving and people can give their money out to whoever they want, and I am all for fundraisers if its helping a good cause, like school project or to raise funds for a charity, but people these days expect me to give you my hard earned money and for the dumbest of reasons (like the Vegas thing)..Then again people can ask for whatever they want it’s what people are willing to contribute ...