Community Chat

[Toppers]

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@MyGirlsMom wrote:

@Toppers

 A few years ago, a go fund me account was started for an in law's family member, his daughter in law stabbed his three grandchildren and one died.  I being as vague as possible..

The father and his two surviving children never returned back to the house after they were released from the hospital and the one child needed to be buried. Nothing could prepare the father, grandparents (all of whom worked) for this kind of tragedy.

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I'm so very sorry to hear of this tradegy, @MyGirlsMom.

We never know what will happen in life. 

Sending you some hugs. ((Hugs)) 

[GCR18]

I only know of one go fund me account.  A former co-workers daughter inlaw unexpectedly passed away.  She was 28, a newlywed and 3 months pregnant.  The family opened the page for funeral expenses.  I think they were looking for 10k.

[Imadickens]

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@Lorelei1123 wrote:

I've donated twice to GoFundMe accounts.  One was for a friend whose mother was the victim of a violent crime.  They lived in different parts of the country, and my friend needed additional funds for travel and other expenses. 

The other fund was for a former co-worker who had passed away unexpectedly.  She left behind a husband and two very young children.  The funds were being put aside for the kids' future education.

In both cases, these accounts were arranged by other people (family members or friends).  I felt comfortable contributing as both situations were legitimate and the people involved had financial challenges. 

I haven't seen any crazy or frivilous excuses for donations, however I'm sure that they do exist. 

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I know I'm going to sound mean here, and that's not who I am at all. However, I find requests to fund children's future education a bit much! I would have loved help, too! A student from a single parent has an easier time getting financial aid than one with two working parents! I know it is a horrible tragedy to be left with only one parent, and I would gladly help with money for day care so the single parent may feel free to return to work. I am more than happy to help out with healthcare for a sick child or parent, and have given more Christmas presents to others than my family in all the years combined! I'm not against helping out with things that are needed due to an emergency situation, including food, clothes, even help for a specially needed vehicle. But, to ask me to pay for another child's college when we all have to face that issue, single and two (or more) parent families alike! Losing a parent is the ultimate pain, I know, but it shouldn't be connected to a college education, at least that's my opinion. Repeat! That is just my opinion! Anyone who thinks it is ok has that right and should donate as they wish.

[Imadickens]

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@Financialgrl wrote:

The only ones I have a soft spot for are the medical ones.  Funerals - that one always confounds me bc from the moment you are born you know death will eventually come so why is it always such a surprise?  And, if you don't have money, only do what you can afford.  Dad had an insurance policy and even so, still only wanted to be cremated and my mother had died 40 years prior so he already had the family plot.  Had he not had the plot, we would have sprinkled his ashes and called it a day.  Dad's cremation and the costs for death certificates and those type requirements were just under $3000.   Much better than the $10,000 most funeral go fundme's request.

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If the death is unexpected, as in the case of a child or young adult,  I understand the hardship! If I were to die soon, my dh could not afford my funeral! I keep it that way to help insure my longevity!😉

[bonnielu]

Hubby and I donated to two requests. One a neighbors husband died suddenly leaving her with extensive bills and in great financial need.  The other one was also a sudden death of a young man whose family had no way to pay for medical and funeral costs.... no insurance.  Both families made their goals and I am thankful that I could help.  

So I guess it all comes down to circumstance and need.  

[Mmsfoxxie]

@Imadickens, you make some valid points.  And no, you don't sound mean, you sound sensible.

[SurferWife]

@Mmsfoxxie...it's ironic you started this thread. My husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. Where we live surfing is a lifestyle. So many of the surfers live to surf. They don't have a career in any kind of a profession that provides health, dental, 401(k), etc., benefits for their family. So, when someone gets hurt really badly and the medical bills wrack up, guess what? A go find me account appears.  The sob stories make me want to puke. The Jeff Spicolli lifestyle isn't so cool when you don't have $$ to pay your medical bills because you've chosen to live a life of irresponsibility, with the attitude "dude a job gets on the way of surfing". I get so disgusted.

[Mmsfoxxie]

@SurferWife, this is the"it's all about me" world we live in today.  Some don't want to sacrifice anything today for tomorrow's needs.  Now more than ever sine GoFundMe came along.

A couple of days ago, one of the  people that I spoke about in my original post who started a fund me request to get money for her son and her to go to his little league game out of town made an announcement on FB that she was getting her iPhone7 soon.  Huh? Don't those things cost several hundred dollars?   With a bill to match?  So next year when her kids have another 'need' will she do another GoFundMe?  (And share more FB pics of her, her sister and their kids at the hotel pool frolicking).  Probably.  She needs a trac phone like me, lol.  I'm so glad that I didn't give my few retirement dollars to it.

Some of these people are users.  As I said before...I help the needy, not the greedy.

[esmeraldagooch]

I know someone who went on vacation in another county.  She came back home , sold all ther belonging and moved to another country to help the people who live there.  She started a Gofundme page to pay her ongoing expenses there.  Feelings are mixed....

[drizzellla]

Sadly, because of a few "bad" experiences I shy away from GoFundMe. And probably many people who truly need the money get ignored.

Sadly a former co-worker's daughter got ALS. She was only 10 when she got it. And the Mother went into high gear fund raising. She did a GoFund Me for a motorized wheelchair. And many people freely gave to that worthy cause. We found out later that her insurance company had paid for the motorized wheelchair  AND her former boss bought her one too.

When it comes to money - you don't know who to trust sometimes.