Fundraising on the old site

[travelingturtle]

Anyone see the post on Money Matters on the old site called "Young couple needs help!"?

It was a link to the OP's indiegogo fundraising site asking people to donate money to them directly. They're trying to raise 20k to pay off debt/wedding (I'm not sure which exactly). The H in the situation quit his job a few months ago (in the description it said his position was phased out and they encouraged him to quit) and hasn't found a job since. Thus, the need for help, or more specifically "Help a young, struggling couple consumed by debt. Our hopes of getting married, having our own home and starting a future have been put on hold."

The post and link were moderated, so it's not on the nest anymore, but you can see a few of the comments still. What do you think of this? Would you donate money towards a stranger's wedding? The OP has only posted 4 times, would you consider it if it were a more frequent poster?

For the record, the poster has received $20 of the $20,000 they are requesting and they still have 33 days to go. I'm not so familiar with indigogo as a fundraising site, but I think it's mostly used to fund creative projects, charities and other things. I wonder if it were a set-up like Kickstarter (where you only get the funding if you raise the entire amount) if they'd ask for the same.

[crimsonandclover]

Wow. Sounds like a scam to me.

I could see donating some money if a tragedy occurred to someone who was a regular on one of my regular boards. One of the moms on my birth month board for DD lost her house and all the baby things she had bought in a fire about 4 months before her baby was due. She didn't ask for money, but I think if someone else on the board set up something like this for her, I would have donated a little or sent her a care package of baby stuff.

[clogged]

They have had similiar things on craig's list.

I think it's tacky and anyone giving money to them is a sucker. Personally, I rate starvation, homelessness, abuse shelters, medical research, and my church higher than a couple, half of whom who voluntarily quit their job, that want a pretty pretty princess day. If I have a spare dime, it isn't going to someone like them.

[clogged]

And what's with the 33 days? Is that when they get carted off to debtor's prison? Lame.

[travelingturtle]

It (33 days) might be the countdown the website requires. I think, maybe, they only allow you a certain number of days to raise funds. I think that indiegogo gets a % of the funds raised and if you raise everything within the time, indiegogo takes less.

As for the couple and the person who voluntarily quit their job, a commenter on the nest said that there's no mention of the other half even having a job. The person who did donate $20 commented that they've been there (there being lots of debt, not a wedding) so they know how hard it is. I wonder if they also got money from strangers to pay for their wedding.

[GilliC]

Aren't a lot of people on MM struggling with overcoming debt, dealing with unemployment, and/or saving for a home? That seems incredibly rude. It's like going on to the Pets board and saying, "I didn't feel like spaying my dog or being a responsible pet owner, so now we have puppies. Who can help us out and adopt one?"

Like PPs, I might donate to someone on my regular boards who suffered some kind of unexpected misfortune, though I'd rather do something if possible or send a gift or useful gift card than just send money.

It almost sounds like MUD.

...And I still don't understand the concept of going into debt to pay for a wedding. W.T.F. I didn't even get it on The Knot. Not even the idea of hoping the monetary gifts would cover the costs.

PS - I also want to punch her for asking donations to help them own their own home. You know what bitch? I don't own my own home, so why the hell would I offer you money so that you can buy yours?!

[clogged]

Jun 25, 2012 11:01:54 GMT -5 travelingturtle said:

It (33 days) might be the countdown the website requires. I think, maybe, they only allow you a certain number of days to raise funds. I think that indiegogo gets a % of the funds raised and if you raise everything within the time, indiegogo takes less.

Thanks for the explanation!

[Deleted]

Chipping in for a stranger's home? Yeah, that's nuts.
By the way, I owe money on mine (fine, it's a mortgage). I'm short a couple of hundred grand. PM me for my Paypal details if you want. kthxbai!

[bugabean]

I've donated to help REGULARS on other boards I frequent when they have ACTUAL problems, for example several of us put in to get a woman with leukemia a special wig made with her own real hair. This poster would be SOL with me for both reasons, not being a regular, and not having a real problem. Not being married and not owning a home are not problems. I might even be able to overlook the fact that they dug their own hole getting into debt if I knew them well enough and really thought they needed a break to get started with their newer, financially smarter life, but they'd still need to be people I know and they'd still need to have an actual problem.

[bugabean]

Jun 25, 2012 12:04:05 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

By the way, I owe money on mine (fine, it's a mortgage). I'm short a couple of hundred grand. PM me for my Paypal details if you want. kthxbai!

Ditto this too!

[Deleted]

Those posters get regularly chewed up on TK. It's hard to believe people would really ask a bunch of strangers to donate so they can get married, which is virtually free no less! They should have big time real problems, that's what they need.

[doctoranda]

wow...woooooowwww. I am just shocked someone would ask strangers to chip in for their wedding and house. Just like others I would consider it if it was for (medical) emergencies and for friends. But not being able to afford having a wedding (getting married can be done for free so it's about the actual wedding) and owning a house are luxury problems imo. We saved for a long time to get married (and it wasn't even a big wedding!) and don't own a house. We just moved after 2 months without pay and are just barely able to make ends meet. These people sound like brats.

[potatopie]

Jun 25, 2012 11:09:00 GMT -5 GilliC said:

PS - I also want to punch her for asking donations to help them own their own home. You know what bitch? I don't own my own home, so why the hell would I offer you money so that you can buy yours?!

Seriously. Go get married at the court house if it means that much to you and rent your friggin place like the rest of us.

Maybe I'll set up a donated fund for that pair of boots I've been eying for so long. You know it would mean sooooo much to me if I had them.

[doctoranda]

Lol Potato Pie! I kind of need a new wardrobe;)