The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

silvasava

I can only imagine what the constant requests from the school are like Fuddle. I agree with you Nursemaggie - last week I actually lost count of all the charities asking for money & I particularly HATE it when they send me things like cards, bookmarks,pens etc. I'd rather they used that money for the charity. I dread to think what it must cost the charity to send all that unsolicited stuff. Some of the charities already benefit from my donations to their CS's or I buy my Christmas cards direct from them. WHY do I feel guilty when I bin all these unsolicited requests?

fuddle

They want you to feel guilty. It's part of their marketing strategy I feel. Use this coaster (yes I got it too) without putting your hand in your pocket and feel the guilt every time you protect your table from your mug of tea.

Knit_Witch

fuddle wrote: »

They want you to feel guilty. It's part of their marketing strategy I feel. Use this coaster (yes I got it too) without putting your hand in your pocket and feel the guilt every time you protect your table from your mug of tea.

To me it is a VERY unsolicited gift, so I use the coasters/bookmarks/pens without a qualm!

[Deleted User]

Don't feel guilty, you support the charities of your preference and give to charity shops, I even use the endless plastic sacks they put through the postbox in the kitchen bin rather than throw them away as they are never collected if you leave them out unused. I just bin anything unsolicited, I too would rather they used the money wasted on pens, cards and postage, yes and coasters too directly for the purpose the charity is set up for but I won't be gulled into sending donations and certainly NOT setting up a regular direct debit which is what they angle for for any reason. I, like all of us, do what I CAN do and if they aren't satisfied with that, so be it!!!

SDG31000

Here, Here Lyn :T :T

I've found that the best way to shut the chuggers (charity muggers) down is to tell them that I already donate, or that I don't have money to give, so I give my time at the Age UK shop. They all get paid to sign people up so I make sure to tell them that I donate my time for free.
I also switch channel or pause the TV when the begging ads come on. There is only so much suffering I can take being piped into my home and choose for my own sake not to watch it.


The first two dozen mince pies are made and baked and there is another dozen uncooked ones in the freezer to stockpile for DS1. Only 13 days until I get to see him again. I have really missed him.


Love and hugs to everyone xxx

nursemaggie

About 7 or 8 years ago I actually added up all the minimum donations and all the money the school had asked for during the last two weeks of November and all of December. It came to £2,500 where would I have got that from?

I do surveys and barely a week goes by without me not getting a survey from a charity. The worse offender is Cancer Research. They must have done at least 30 surveys that I know of this last year. They are not surveys it is find 30 different ways to ask why I am not giving them my entire income. If any of us did we would get pestered every month for ever. They never give up.

I don't think I would have a go at the people being paid to sign people up. They have probably been on the dole for 2 or 3 years of course they take the job and if they don't they will get sanctioned. I think it is up to local councils to ban the charities, they can.

There is one who comes down our street every Thursday night. I have given him a mouthful more than once. Now when he sees my face he is out of our gate and knocking on next door before I have time to say a word.

I mainly support small local charities now.

silvasava

Thank you everyone for your stance on all the 'guff' we get from charities. Now I know I'm not in the minority I won't feel guilty anymore As usual Mrs L you always put things very succinctly and in perspective!

elisamoose

can I ask what the schools are asking for? I work at a primary and we have lots going on but not asking for money all the time.Was nativity and play today with a bucket for donations ( money goes towards next years panto trip) . Christmas fair on Friday but parents are just asked to come along and buy if they want.We did ask for cakes though. Next week is parties- parents are asked for food donations - just snacks really. I can't imagine what adds up to the 2500 that someone mentioned!

nursemaggie

If you read what I said you will know exactly what it included. Most of it was the minimum donation requested by charities.

My son's school expected several donations for the Christmas fare plus the parents and child to attend. There were games in every classroom and your child was expected to play them all. There were collections for various charities or for school almost every day for the last month of a Autumn fare. There were usually at least 3 none uniform days to pay for during the last term of school. There were also collections at the nativity plays class by class some parents were expected to pay for 3 childrens nativity play.

The average minimum donations I got letters about were for £50. I could not afford it so they did not get it.

fuddle

Sounds about what we used to ask for when I worked in Primary elisamoose. That level is to be expected and something I would definitely support to enable my little ones to have a good Christmas experience at school. What I object to is the incessant asking for money driven by the Parent Teacher Associations of both my girls' schools. One school supplements the school with £1000 per term for additional activity, upkeep and resources. How and why I do not know but with that figure you can get an idea of what we're bombarded with at this time of year, obviously a major money making time for them.