When you think that of begging, you almost certainly consider the homeless and desperate. An worker would never become involved on this. Or? If you think that the reply isn’t any, here’s a story.
Joe’s story
There is a person begging near my office and I walk past him almost every single day. He stands on his corner along with his dog and asks for money. His sign simply says: “Need money.” Please give.” He doesn’t look particularly scary and is all the time polite to passers-by. He’s been there for nearly a yr. I even have to confess I used to be really inquisitive about this guy. He looks as if a sensible, decent guy – in no way what you think that of once you consider a cheater. One day my curiosity got the higher of me and I gave him five dollars and asked if he would talk over with me for a minute. He agreed. I do not know what his name is (don’t ask, don’t tell), so for this piece I’ll call him Joe.
I asked him what he had done before he began begging. To my surprise, he was an engineer. He was laid off a number of years ago and quickly grew bored with on the lookout for work and filing for unemployment. He tried to begin his own business, nevertheless it didn’t occur as quickly as he had hoped. It was during this era of unemployment/underemployment that he realized he really hated the 9-to-5 grind. He checked out another workspaces but couldn’t really find anything. A friend challenged him to beg for a day and boom, he found his calling.
My conversation with Joe
“I loved being outside and meeting people. I loved being able to set my own hours and work when I wanted. I didn’t have an evil boss hanging over my shoulder telling me what to do. The freedom was wonderful.”
“But you don’t make much money, do you? How can you live on this money?” I asked.
“In a good year, I make around $55,000 in cash, tax-free. Since everything is paid in cash, I don’t pay any taxes. This is probably roughly equivalent to an $80,000 per year job. I live in it [here he named a neighborhood in town that’s not super wealthy, but it known for it’s well off residents]. It’s not a bad life. I just need to get my own health insurance.”
Wow. I had no idea begging could possibly be so lucrative. I put aside the ethics of not paying taxes and moved on.
“What do your neighbors think?” I asked.
“You don’t know. “I tell people I’m self-employed and most people just assume it’s my previous job,” Joe said.
“Do you have a family?”
“A wife and two children. You agree to this. The kids think it’s an adventure, and it is. My wife is just happy that the money is coming in.”
“Will you ever get a real job again?” I asked.
“Probably one day. It’s fun for now, but I can’t imagine doing it forever. When the economy recovers, I may try to start my business again.”
“Why the dog?” I asked. It’s a cute dog, a form of mutt. He can also be very friendly and loving.
“The dog calms people down. He is friendly and sweet. People like to pet him and talk to him. People end up giving me money after petting the dog. It’s like they’re paying to play with the dog.”
(Personally, I believe there is a sympathy thing happening where people think he cannot feed the dog so that they give money, but Joe didn’t admit that and I wasn’t there to listen to him confess to push.)
Joe said that, like every successful business, successful begging depends upon having bait. Offer something other scammers don’t. Joe has his dog. Then there may be the normal window cleaner. I saw a person on the news who will inform you a joke in case you give him money. Someone else I saw will recite a Bible verse to you. Joe told me a few former advisor who would give me advice. If you’ll be able to give people something for his or her money, you shall be higher off than those that just ask for money and provides nothing in return.
I asked Joe what was the strangest thing he had ever gotten. Since not everyone gives money, I used to be curious.
“I got food, gift cards, dog food for the dog, crafts and bags of toiletries. But the strangest thing was the tools. A man gets out of his car, takes this old toolbox out of his trunk and hands it over. He said he was cleaning out his dad’s garage and found her. He didn’t need it, so he gave it away. “Learn a trade, man,” he said and drove off. I believed it was funny, but these tools got here in handy.”
Should you begin begging?
Don’t lie: Don’t put up an indication saying you are homeless once you’re not. Don’t say you may have six children in case you have no. It’s okay to ask for money; After all, you’ll be able to just say no. But don’t trick people into providing you with money.
Don’t be hostile or rude: If someone doesn’t want to offer you anything or simply gives you a number of cents, don’t make sarcastic comments, don’t act indignant, and do not use rants. Just say “Thank you” or “Have a nice day” and move on.
Follow local laws: In most areas, begging shouldn’t be entirely illegal. However, there are likely restrictions on where and when you’ll be able to do that. You may additionally must register with the municipality and procure a license as a beggar. Learn the principles and follow them unless you wish an evening in jail.
Dress well, but not too well: You don’t need to look creepy or spooky because that puts people off. However, in case you look too nice, people will assume you do not need money and ignore you. According to Joe, jeans and t-shirts are a superb alternative.
Don’t be aggressive or threatening: Don’t stalk people, get of their faces, or make threats to attempt to force them out of their money. Ask politely in the event that they would give something and leave it at that.
Accept the whole lot that’s given to you: If you receive gift cards you can’t use, you’ll be able to exchange them for cards that you just use online or with other people. If you get alcohol (it happens), you’ll be able to give it as a present for Christmas. If someone desires to give you lunch, allow them to. Cash is great, but other things have value, so don’t turn anything away.
Never beg when drunk or high: Not only is it illegal to be publicly under the influence in lots of places, it also turns people off and might lead you to say or do something that may get you in real trouble.
Begging is not for everybody, and there are some questionable ethics in pursuing it when other options can be found to you. (Not to say the tax thing.) You can argue that somebody who can work and is educated shouldn’t beg. However, I could also argue that many educated people shouldn’t be of their chosen career either. If someone like Joe could make a living by begging in a free market economy, he has that right so long as he doesn’t force people to offer him money. People pay for plenty of silly things. So in the event that they want to offer him their money, they’ll and he can accept it.
I do not know if Joe is true to beg or not. On the one hand, I believe he should get a job. But however, I do not think there’s anything incorrect with it if he can earn money from it, he enjoys it and he is not harming anyone or doing anything illegal. It’s like starting another business. You do what people pay for, and folks pay it. I never thought begging could or could be a profession alternative, but apparently it is feasible.
Read more great articles from Saving Advice:
38 Great Ways to Make Extra Money (Without Begging)
Seventeen bills in your wallet value greater than face value
Where to Hide Money in Your Home: Conversations with a Burglar
