Go Fund Me to pay regular bills?

[Anonymous]

What do you think about people who start Go Fund Me pages for themselves to pay their bills? I'm talking rent, electricity, phone, regular bills. No medical bills, accidents, unusual events...just "got behind this month" and asking for help.

To me this seems a bit strange, but I'm wondering if others see a lot of this and if it's a normal thing nowadays?

FWIW, this is an old acquaintance from childhood, not a close friend, but we've kept in touch here and there over the years. I moved away long ago and now most people I know here in my daily DC life are about the same socioeconomic level as me and no one I know personally seems to be living so close to the edge, barring a major disaster/crisis. So I guess it was surprising to me to see this type of fundraising for daily life expenses and just wonder how common it is?

[Anonymous]

Do you know there wasn’t a major life crisis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know there wasn’t a major life crisis?

Yes, they explained it on the Go Fund Me page and I then reached out separately. Just due to inflation, no raises, savings dwindled down, and now can't make ends meet. Kind of a person who overshares, so would definitely have said if it was something more. Which, I mean I do respect the honesty and that they didn't try to make something up.

[Anonymous]

I think many people like this have been living paycheck to paycheck and under chronic stress. Some people exhausted their savings during COVID and inflation and a few unexpected expenses are sometimes enough to overwhelm someone’s plans. If you can help out, it would be great. Once people get into a spiral of debt it becomes very difficult to get out of it without major change, help, or exceptional good luck.

It is normal now. Groceries, gas, expenses not covered by insurance (like dental bills or glasses), or a car repair are enough to tip someone’s reasonable budget over the edge. As to the people you’re comparing your friend with, you really don’t know who’s living on credit cards or has been getting substantial help from family — either now, or in the past — in ways that continue to matter.

I’d add that in addition to holiday bills and regular bills, many people have just had to pay annual bills such as property taxes, so December/January might be unusual although not unexpected when it comes to paying bills.

[Anonymous]

Do you really have nothing better to do than troll some poor acquaintance by asking them for more details on their Go Fund Me page and then judging them on DCUM? Your life sounds pathetic.

[Anonymous]

If someone needs money, I don't judge how they try to get that money beyond stealing it from others. Give or not, but I'm not going to judge someone for saying "I'm having trouble with my rent this month, here is a way to help me if you can." If they lied about their circumstances or exerted lots of pressure on people to give, that's different. But just asking? It's fine.

Now, if that person asked me to advise them on their financial situation, I would suggest that relying on the charity of friends and associates might be a stressful longterm financial strategy, and suggest seeing if we can find a way to either increase income or lower expenses. But if they are not asking for my advice, which they are under no obligation to do, I will assume they are fine with the situation they are in, in which case I won't judge either way. Just because I wouldn't be comfortable with it doesn't mean it's bad, and I don't see anything unethical about it.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely hate gofundme site. I rather support "GoF**kme" instead. Support yourself!

[Anonymous]

It’s modern day begging. I wonder if they see it that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely hate gofundme site. I rather support "GoF**kme" instead. Support yourself!

I have certainly never asked for GoFundMe cash and only very rarely given but I don’t understand the anger it arouses in people. Who cares if people are out here digitally pan handling? Just don’t give and move on with your day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s modern day begging. I wonder if they see it that way.

+1

[Anonymous]

I have had a childhood friend do this and I did donate money. I think she has made bad choices such as not maintaining full time employment despite being a smart, capable person with a college degree, but I hope that people would help me out if I was in need even if they thought I made bad choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think about people who start Go Fund Me pages for themselves to pay their bills? I'm talking rent, electricity, phone, regular bills. No medical bills, accidents, unusual events...just "got behind this month" and asking for help.

To me this seems a bit strange, but I'm wondering if others see a lot of this and if it's a normal thing nowadays?

FWIW, this is an old acquaintance from childhood, not a close friend, but we've kept in touch here and there over the years. I moved away long ago and now most people I know here in my daily DC life are about the same socioeconomic level as me and no one I know personally seems to be living so close to the edge, barring a major disaster/crisis. So I guess it was surprising to me to see this type of fundraising for daily life expenses and just wonder how common it is?

I think: this is an example of the same short term thinking that got you into this mess. This can’t be how you plan to make beds meet every month for the rest of your life, so get a different plan.