I occasionally find myself in a financial situation where I am desperate for money. I scramble to figure out where it can come from. Is there something I can sell? Is there somebody I can borrow it from? Maybe an invoice I can collect?
While I’m tempted to make a plea on my social media groups or blog, I usually restrain myself. I say a little prayer and rely on God to take care of it for me instead. That’s how I deal with it. I don’t necessarily find anything wrong with sending your plea through your social media groups and such, but I just have a hard time reaching out for help in general. I also think you need to be careful about how you word it.
For example: (copied and pasted, typos are included)
1976 F-250 2 wheel drive extended cab 360 motor with manual trans. new tune up on motor & carb has been rebuilt.. make me an offer I need to get rid of this one as soon as I can just found out the wife is pregnant.. I am desperate to sell..no resonable offer refused as long as it is resonable… I might also be interested in trading for smaller front wheel drive car, Boat or 4 wheeler atv
Case in point (and the reason I’m posting about this today) is when somebody posted on one of my local groups recently that he was desperate to sell his truck because his wife just found out she was pregnant. Ok, when I read his post my first thought is that he wants to sell his truck because they need to start saving for baby expenses that they weren’t expecting. Is my interpretation of this wrong or does he want you to feel sympathy for his situation?
So you get to the end of his ad and he says, “I might also be interested in trading for smaller front wheel drive car, Boat or 4 wheeler atv.” Ok, I’m sorry, how is a boat or 4 wheeler ATV going to help you and your unexpectedly pregnant wife? I can see where they might want to trade it for a car. That makes sense. Does trading for a boat or ATV make sense?
I usually am not a judgmental person. I think the reason this has got me all up in arms is that I did feel sympathy for their situation at first, but the end of the post just made me feel he was using the situation as a sympathy ploy for his ad, which in turn made me feel … used.
Hmmm…off my soapbox now.
Great post Shannon. First of all the typing errors in his ad drove me nuts…LOL. I did feel sympathy too until I got to the end of the ad and then I was perturbed and disgusted. A boat or ATV certainly isn’t going to help their situation…so I find myself wondering is the wife really pregnant???
My point exactly! I mean if you want to trade your truck for a boat or an ATV, then great! Go for it! But be honest about it, don’t try to make it sound like you are getting rid of it because you need the money. Geesh!
I would be very leery with this type of solicitation for your exact reasons. Sell something if you need the money but don’t make up lies or send emails begging for money.
maybe he lives by a river. Just kidding. You have a great influence here….great job!
Wow! He should have left the trade part out.