Panhandler at Krogers today

[Tyme2fish]

Mrs Tyme and I made our monthly trip to Kroger's today. (First Wednesday of the month 10% Senior discount day).

We had finished our shopping and were loading the 3 carts of groceries into our F-150 when a man of about 28 years old or so approached me.

He said, " I'm not a crack addict or anything and I've got pictures of my kids on me to prove it. (Me ??) I need some money for a gallon of gas."

Me: "I don't carry cash."

Then his cell phone rings and he walks off.

A tip to you, beggar. Don't start off by telling me what you aren't. You're not a crack addict and you're probably not a space alien either. What the heck does a picture of someone's kids have to do with this transaction? I had a picture of a good looking woman in my billfold when I bought it. Don't know who she is, but she sure is pretty.

And you might want to hit up folks going in to Kroger's, not when they are coming out and have already spent their monthly stipend.

Side-note: Total bill was around $337.00 and we saved $138.00 using our Kroger Plus card and senior discount. Bought two turkeys for Thanksgiving as our daughter and her family from Arkansas are coming to visit us.

[SLP]

Clearly you are not aware of the little known fact that crack dealers are incapable of having children.

[coombro]

Clearly you are not aware of the little known fact that crack dealers are incapable of having children.

So wheres the punch line to this?

[SLP]

No punchline, I was just making a joke pointing out the ridiculousness of this statement.

"I'm not a crack addict or anything and I've got pictures of my kids on me to prove it."

When I read that, I thought it was a funny thing to say. How does pictures of his children prove that?

[Tyme2fish]

No punchline, I was just making a joke pointing out the ridiculousness of this statement.



When I read that, I thought it was a funny thing to say. How does pictures of his children prove that?

Exactly my point.

[Chubminnow]

I had a grocery store experience similar to your's happen to me about a year ago...I wasn't shopping, I was just going in for a gallon of milk, some bread and lunch meat. Then here comes this young lady of about 19 or 20 carrying a child on her hip that looked to be about two or so...it's been so long I can't remember her story, I think it was along the same lines as your story though...all she asked me for was 2 or 3 dollars so she could get a gallon of gas to get her back home. I knew it was raining outside, the baby on her hip, his face was a little dirty and his hair was a mess as was his full length pajama's. Heck I couldn't handle it....I gave her a ten just because of the baby she was carrying. What could I do...WHAT could I DO? So that's what I did...

There's all kinds out there....some good liars, some good people just needing a little help, some lost souls, some scum bags...it's usually the scum bags that will steal or rob in lieu of beg...but there ain't no telling what to expect these days or what you might see.

[DJD]

I have had many of these folks ask me for money but none with a baby on her hip. That would be tough to handle. I prolly would have given her a few bucks as well. As a rule I don't give out money to anyone. I'll help someone out with changing a tire, getting their car started, dead battery and so on but no money.
My new favorite line will be...sorry brother but I used to have spare change but since Obama has become president he gets my change.

[GeoFisher]

I'll help someone out with changing a tire, getting their car started, dead battery and so on but no money.

I rarely give to pan handlers, but WHEN I do, I usually give gift certificates to Micky D's or somewhere like the such.

I work in Downtown Louisville, and have given my fair share of white castle and Micky gift certs to folks who genuinely are hungry. NEVER GIVE MONEY.

I almost stopped giving totally when I had a bum throw the certs in the garbage and tell me that was not effen money..........that really honked me off and turned me into a hard a$$ for a while.

Later,

Geo

[Tim_T]

I almost always give them some change. Sometimes maybe even a couple of dollars. What they use it for I don't always know, but I hope that most use it for some food. If not, my intention was good and it is not like I am taking food out of my families mouths to give them money for a drink or whatever. I guess I read the sermon on the mount too many times!

[SLP]

Side-note: Total bill was around $337.00 and we saved $138.00 using our Kroger Plus card and senior discount. Bought two turkeys for Thanksgiving as our daughter and her family from Arkansas are coming to visit us.

Those Kroger cards are pretty good deals. When you build up enough points you can fill up your car/truck with gas and I think get .10 off per gallon.

Enjoy Thanksgiving with your daughter and family.

[Tyme2fish]

Those Kroger cards are pretty good deals. When you build up enough points you can fill up your car/truck with gas and I think get .10 off per gallon.

Enjoy Thanksgiving with your daughter and family.

Krogers has changed that a bit. It use to be $100.00 was 100 points and that got you 10 cents off a gallon. Now you can take your month's worth ( $300.00) and get 30 cents off a gallon up to 35 gallons. I barely use that much gas a month now that I'm not driving to work everyday. I'll take the F-150 to town when it's down to about 1/4 of a tank and also take two 5 gallon cans with me. The cans I use for either my boat or my Ford Ranger and I'll end up saving around $12.00 to $14.00 a month. Every little bit helps.

[MsgMills]

My wife came home from getting gas at kroger's adn she actually got 80 cents off on the gallon...Don't know if the pump was messed up or not..But we had over 800 pints saved up on our card at the time.