Reply to How does public assistance (welfare) work?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]In my experience working with families who receive welfare, those that are generational or life long welfare recipients (grew up on welfare, on welfare as an adult) often have a very poor understanding of money / budgeting and very limited financial management skills. It is often important to them to use the money they have to be generous and kind and to do things for others. They buy gifts, take friends and family out for meals etc as part of being caring, considerate giving people. They don't want to stand out as the poor people who never contribute or never do anything nice for others. The problem is this comes at the expense of the rest of the month. One family I worked with always brought me a gift each month to show their appreciation and after paying a few bills, spent the rest on gifts for others. By the 3rd or 4th of the month they had $0 left for the rest of the month.

OP - regardless of how they spend the money they get a set amount so it is costing the same tax wise - they don't get more each month if they spent the money on gifts. [/quote]

This is very insightful.  I didn't think of that.  I remember when I graduated from college during the early 1990s recession and couldn't find a job, I went overboard buying gifts (using my credit card) for friends and family at Christmas.  My sister got very angry with me because I was spending money I didn't have, but it was the only way I could think of to show how much I cared.  I totally see now the mentality I must have had at that time.

To the OP, the woman you posted about undoubtedly has a shitty life, regardless of the amount of assistance she receives - but in her mind, she really has no other choice.  She has 7 kids.  She can't [u]afford[/u] to work, because daycare costs alone would break her.  She's stuck with a drunk husband, who probably forces her to sleep with him.  She probably isn't educated about birth control, or else she's leaving her fertility in the hands of God.  Whatever.  It's no joy living on welfare; it's not an easy life.  [/quote]

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