Do You Buy 'the Big Issue'

[cecil39]

I allways do as I think "that might have been one of mine if things had not gone so well for us" but when I handed £3 over today the young man just put the money in his pocket and turned away, not even offering me my 50p change, I would usually say "keep the change" but it really anoyed me that it was not even offered, I was in a hurry so left it, but I won't buy another unless I have the right money in my purse.

[Prudie]

No. i used to feel guilty about it but not now, I believe the sellers are not as they seem.

[cazzz1975]

does anyone buy it for the articles? I always hear people saying they buy it more as a charitable gesture

I dont buy the big issue..

[Mick-Talbot]

No.

[boxtops]

No, I don't buy it, as cazzz says it would be a charitable gesture if I did, I don't want to read it. The guy who sells in our town has been here for some years, he's very pleasant.

[emmie]

no it's a con.

[Baldric]

In one of the E/Kent towns the Big issue distributor meets his sales people in the carpark of the Job Centre Plus office as they come out.

[B00]

Nope

[Prudie]

Undrstandable baldric. Jobcentre staff aren't paid much ;-)

[mushroom25]

round here, the big issue sellers are self-employed romanian women. they're no more homeless or in need of charity than i am; to them it's just a job. and they defend their sales pitches zealously, backed up by sinister looking men in combat fatigues.

[emmie]

once our sellers were the local alcoholics, now it's the Romanians

[Georgiesmum]

I didnt used to, but i do now after reading the book about Bob, the street cat and his owner. It made me see that there are people on the streets like him that sell the big issue purely to pay their energy bills and put food on the table.

[cecil39]

I don't just buy it as charity, I actually read it, there is often some really interesting stuff in there, instead of a lot of silly stuff about soap 'stars' and celebs that I don't want know about, I do believe some sellers are not really in need though, but I feel for those that are and really trying to turn their lives around, it was the young mans attitude that he could just take the extra money that got my goat, just ill manners.

[maggiebee]

Just finished reading A Street Cat called Bob - really inspiring and gives a great insight into some Big Issue sellers as Georgiesmum says. You'll really enjoy the story.

[cecil39]

I will definatly read that Maggiebee thanks.

[commoner]

Used to hand over my £1 regularly until one day a girl said " a quid's no effing good grandad!".....it had gone up unbeknown to me...never donated since and never will.

[emmie]

all the money donated to the local sellers went on booze, they would congregate in the local park and get smashed out of the heads, so no sorry i don't any more..

[Georgiesmum]

Maggiebee, If you enjoyed A street cat called Bob., dont miss "Casper the commuting cat" Its a very good read.
I am currently working my way through
"A cat called Norton"
For the love of Norton" and
Forever Norton"
All very similar books. These three books are by Peter Gethers.
Im sure you would enjoy them.

[magsmay]

no - when they are hunched up outside M&S hoping for the old ladies sympathy - gabbing to their mates on their smartphones -no I am not giving them my hard earned money so they can pay their phone bills

[Sammy48]

There is a lad that stands at the entrance to my local Sainsburys, I have always bought a Big Issue from him, until one day I saw him getting into a rather smart 4 x 4 and drive away.

[jake-the-peg]

I think you'd have to be selling a lot of Big Issues to pay for a big smart 4x4 Sammy.

And if you'd got the money from other nefarious activities then you'd be daft to still be selling Big Issues.