Would you give $500 or $1000 to a Facebook acquaintance you know is struggling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gift it to her as a gift, not a loan.
I love the ideas for doing it anonymously.
I just gave $4000 to someone I know (not a close friend) who needed it as a deposit for housing. She has several kids and can afford the rent but had nothing saved for a deposit. I will never see that $4k again, because surely they will trash the house in some way, etc, so she won't get it back. And because of who she is, she will always lurch from one crisis to another, so it's not as if this solves all her troubles. But, hey, it solves one big immediate problem for her family, and makes really no material difference in my life. You can call me a sucker. Yes, I could have put that $4k in an index fund and had gobs more money 20 years from now. But they call it personal finance for a reason, it's personal, and personally I get a kick out of being a random guardian angel now and then.

Wonderful! Wish there were more generous people like you in the world!

[Anonymous]

I've never given $500 or $1000, but I have given people smaller amounts. For example, one time a person I vaguely knew couldn't afford to have his beloved dog cremated after her death, and I paid for that.

I think it's very kind and generous of you to help. If you can afford to give away that amount, then I think it's a wonderful thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your friend hasn't asked anyone for money. She hasn't started a GoFundMe site. She's asked people for help finding odd jobs so she can raise / earn the money herself. This is huge for me. Because of how she's going about it, I'd absolutely gift her whatever I could afford, with no strings attached. I'd also do it anonymously.

You seem to know the dealership where she bought the car. Will they be the ones servicing the vehicle? If so, go there, and give them $1,000 towards her engine repair, and ask them to tell her it was an anonymous donation.

It's not a friend in reality-just a FB click friend from the hometown. No way OP should send $-gift or loan. I'd be prompted to do court case and crime and arrest record searches if this person asked for money. That person could have creep boyfriend etc and this could grow into a real mess.

[Anonymous]

I would and have given money to people in situations like the one you describe above. I never expect to get it back. I have a abundance and no one is going hungry or without anything in my house or family because I gave a few hundred dollars to someone outside that circle who needed. We want people off assistance programs, but then don't want to help. You can't have it both ways.

[Anonymous]

If you feel strongly that you should, then you should pay attention to that feeling. Always trust your instincts.

[Anonymous]

Yes I will give the money as a gift not loan

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do it as a gift, not a loan. I would feel odd if an old acquaintance offered me a loan. If you offer the money and she insists on paying it back that would be fine but I would not ask.

$500 or $1000 is more than I can gift someone though, so I would not offer. It seems like you are compelled to help, so give her what you can afford. I have never regretted helping someone who needed it.

+1 It's only money. If you are comfortable enough to do this, then you are very fortunate compared to your friend. The fact that she's not even asking for "handouts" would seal it for me. If I could, yes, no question.

+2. If it's on your heart to do it, do it. I'd gift it and ask her to pay it forward to someone else.

[Anonymous]

I would if I can afford it even if this person is not a close acquaintance. I have donated to a few crowfunding campaigs to people I don't even know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow I'm shocked so many people say yes. I say no way.

Nope. Never.

I also don't donate when a FB friend starts a Go Fund Me campaign.