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Snakes in Limbo :(

Again. Regardless of how you feel about people on disability or who have student loans...I fail to see how it is necessary to be harsh just for the sake of being harsh. And if you actually read the op's original post, she had miscalculated her budget by 1000. And that included her rent and other bills. It was never stated how much was actually being spent on the snakes in question. It is very easy for others to pass judgement on people they don't know. If you are lucky enough to have never been disabled, unemployed, or made an error in budgeting more power to you and bless ya. For us mere mortals these are things that happen and we don't need others to look down on us and make judgements.

Just saying.
 
This is for everyone's knowledge (especially beautifullywild77)

In the US, disability payments are to compensate a person for forgone wages. Since they are disabled and cannot work, the gov't pays them a monthly "allowance" based on a percentage of their former salary. In a majority of cases, disability payments will be DENIED if the Social Security Administration finds out. The idea being, if you can go to school, then you can work and don't need the disability assistance.

Military benefits are a separate case (like that of beautifullywild's husband).

Here are the facts:
OP purchased expensive snake(s)
OP payed $300 towards acquiring said snake(s)
OP doesn't have enough $ to finish paying for the snake(s)

If you can't afford them (and are willing to take out a payday loan to get them), how are you going to afford to feed/properly take care of them?

If you think that is just "being harsh for the sake of being harsh", I'll invite you to join the real world.
 
Thanks guys! It makes me happy to know I have friends on this forum! It makes me feel loved.

For the others, disability funds include a portion for clothing and another for entertainmet purposes. Since I buy clothes about twice a year and I am not one to hang out at the movies I put 'taxpayers money' to use helping local rescues and taking in unwanted pets. Is that wrong? I mean, I could always take that money and go on a binge to my local liquor store every weekend. Many people on assistance do just that. Or drugs, drugs are pretty popular too.

Forgive me, I want to go to school, get my degree as a Holistic Vet and actually do something rather than depend on a monthly check while lazing in bed. Unfortunately the job market for people with a born disability on an island is kind of shallow.

Whatever money doesn't go into food and rent goes into animals.
In the case with this trio, a pair of hatchling Brazillian Boas (Cazien and Kenzie) and an adult Sonoran Gopher (Ramsay).
Ramsay has spent the last three years passed around Vancouver Island and the smaller islands like a party favor. I have been interested in him since he popped up for sale four times last year.
The hatchies are a pair of males that a friend and I are smitten with, she purchased one, and I am working on it. The cancellation of my lifeline kind of killed that.
The owner just wants them gone, he's rather uncaring about how its done, he's money hungry.

Disability failed to send me my December rent, and failed to inform me that my decision to go to college (after I already attended a semester) meant I was no longer capable of receiving assistance until I confronted them about it. I believe it is wrong to leave a person in need out on their ass when they depend on your services, however short or long term. That is not what these agencies are for.
 
vliberatore said:
This is for everyone's knowledge (especially beautifullywild77)

In the US, disability payments are to compensate a person for forgone wages. Since they are disabled and cannot work, the gov't pays them a monthly "allowance" based on a percentage of their former salary. In a majority of cases, disability payments will be DENIED if the Social Security Administration finds out. The idea being, if you can go to school, then you can work and don't need the disability assistance.

Military benefits are a separate case (like that of beautifullywild's husband).

Here are the facts:
OP purchased expensive snake(s)
OP payed $300 towards acquiring said snake(s)
OP doesn't have enough $ to finish paying for the snake(s)

If you can't afford them (and are willing to take out a payday loan to get them), how are you going to afford to feed/properly take care of them?

If you think that is just "being harsh for the sake of being harsh", I'll invite you to join the real world.
Click to expand...

I'm Canadian.
 
vliberatore said:
If you think that is just "being harsh for the sake of being harsh", I'll invite you to join the real world.
Click to expand...

Everyone is entitled to their own political or moral views, but I don't feel this is the thread for that. But since the door has already been opened.....

I have certain views on organized religion, but I wouldn't comment on a christian's thread and start telling them they are making wrong decisions and talking down to them just because I have strong opinions about it. We are all talking about owning snakes and spending money on them. Someone could easily pop in and say that with all the homeless and starving people out there we should be giving that money to help humans instead. And what about those of us that will take our tax refund and spend it on snakes or whatever we want? That is tax money that could go for govt programs, but they gave it back because we had deductions. Will you be giving that money back because it belongs to the govt? The fact is, the op is from Canada and unless you are too, your objections in this case are irrelevant as it is not your tax dollars that are effected.

My reaction has more to do with the wording and condescending manner in which the comments were expressed. I have opinions about the abuses of welfare and disability that are not so far off from yours. That being said, I don't believe that the op or this thread warranted some of the comments.

By the way, since you know nothing about me or my life up to this point in time, I DO live in the "real world". I just happen to believe that there should be more kindness, respect, and understanding in that world and that when you strip us all down to the essence of humanity, no one is better than anyone else. No one should be talked down to, especially in a place like this forum where we are supposed to be sharing our love of snakes.
 
I am sorry if I came across as being harsh just for the sake of being harsh. My language may not have been flowery enough, but the points being made are valid.

Lumene--- I would offer that vlibatore and I are being much better friends by suggesting that you don't spend money that you don't have on a totally unnecessary item, than someone who tells you to get a payday loan to go further in debt to buy something you don't need.

As for "rescuing" these snakes---that is a wonderful thought, but not realistic if you need rescue yourself. Help yourself first. If you have a few extra bucks, put it in savings. You are living on the edge of financial peril. Don't make it worse. As was mentioned, what will you do when one of these rescues needs a vet visit? Or you need a rodent order the same day your car breaks down? You are not doing yourself or the snakes any favors here. If you want to help animals, that is fantastic! It can be done with no cost to you by volunteering with a shelter or rescue group.

Sierra--- tax refund money is money you earned. It is money that you overpayed the government throughout the year and they are giving it back. Totally different ball game than public assistance which is money that the government gives someone because they can't/won't earn their own money.

Anyway, again, I am not trying to be "harsh for the sake of being harsh". I am trying to be realistic, and suggest some rational options. Too bad snake forums so often are geared towards cheering people on for getting more and more snakes, despite the wisdom of doing so.
 
If you look at the post where I suggested the payday loan, I did make a point of saying that it was only a short term solution and was only advisable if you could pay it off quickly. My point being that if it was not a matter of no funds, just a delay of a few days, then it was better to pay a small fee than lose the non-refundable $300+ that was already paid. I see it as no different than me borrowing $80 from my boyfriend last month to get a starving bearded dragon from a pet store. I was a week from payday and was afraid he wouldn't make it that long. Does that mean I couldn't afford to take care of him? I don't think so, although you certainly have a right to do so. From what I gathered from the op it was a matter of timing versus money. I agree that one should not take on animals they can't afford, but it is not my place to tell someone that they can't just because they didn't get money that was promised. We all need to know our limits and even though I, also, have to rein myself in and remind myself that I cannot save them all.

I do apologize if I did more harm than good by giving moral support. Regardless of some opinions, I am realistic(albeit hopeful). I just think your opinions could have been voiced in a more productive manner. Sometimes, it is all about the delivery.
 
I spoke about the US, because most people on CS are from the US, and I do not know how the disability system works in Canada. But it sounds like the disability administration there isn't far off from what I described here in the US. Go to college, don't receive benefits. If you can go to school you can work and don't need benefits. What kind of disability make it so you can't work, but can go to school full time?

Sierra, your analogy about trying to change a religious person's views or get people to donate $ to the homeless are completely different than this. What's similar to this is if I collect unemployment, even though I work a job working under the table. I'm collecting a subsidy for one thing, but I don't need it because I'm really working. I don't know you you think it matters if she's in Canada. Do you remember this:

Here are the facts:
OP purchased expensive snake(s)
OP payed $300 towards acquiring said snake(s)
OP doesn't have enough $ to finish paying for the snake(s)

It has nothing to do with my political views. I'm not sure why you brought that up. It has to do with being a responsible person. BTW, payday loans can have around a 3685% EAR. How much sense does that make?

In the end, it comes down to want versus need.
 
Lumene--- I would offer that vlibatore and I are being much better friends by suggesting that you don't spend money that you don't have on a totally unnecessary item, than someone who tells you to get a payday loan to go further in debt to buy something you don't need.
Click to expand...

I agree. It sounds like you are on the edge of making/breaking it as it is, and you don't NEED these snakes, while you DO need food, shelter, etc. With $300 already ponied up I'd think the seller would be able to work out something; he sounds like a jerk if not...
 
Okay. I am not going to comment any more on this thread after this because it is like beating a dead horse. We will just have to agree to disagree. My initial point was that the op was not asking for help or even advice. She was just sharing her situation and her hopes that it would all work out in the end. In response, some could only tell her what they felt she was doing wrong. To the point where it became something else entirely. The only thing she did ask for was good thoughts. Perhaps I started all this by giving advice unsolicited. If so, then I apologize.

I don't deny that you have some valid points(some I can agree with), however I think that we are at an impass as far as the overall picture. Maybe the op should not get the snakes and should cut her losses as far as the money already spent. Maybe not. That is not my decision to make.

I am well aware of the almost outrageous interest that the payday loan businesses charge. However, at least where I live, the charges are about about $25 per $100 borrowed. If paid in the time allowed(which is usually about 2-3 weeks), this amount may be less than the $300+ deposit that would be lost otherwise. Because I have limited knowledge of the amount still needed, the amount of the deposit, and the time frame involved; I cannot say whether or not it would be the right way to go. It would be entirely up to the op to make that call.

Again, I don't totally disagree with your views, just with the way you came across. Nothing gets my back up like someone talking down to me or someone else. To the op...I hope things work out in the best way for the snakes. I have known some on disability that choose to sit back and collect the check like it's their job even though they could be working. I applaud anyone's efforts to better themselves and become self sufficient.
 
My point was, there is no need to be harsh or rude about it.
Also, I wanted to point out that student loans were not from the tax payers pockets. Here in the US, you will not lose your disability if you go to school. Most of the time they want to you educate yourself do to a job you can perform with your disability.

You can apply for grants, for 1,000 of reasons, from our government. You just got to find them. Sometimes you are required to say what you spent the money on, but most of the time you dont!

Lumene, I wish the best of luck with everything. I hope you figure it out!
 
Sierra, I know you said you didn't care to comment any more, and perhaps that is the best course for all of us. I do wish you would explain why you scoff at people who buy steaks and lobster with food stamps, yet actively encourage someone to buy snakes. I truly do not understand that reasoning.

I agree with those that say if you can go to school, you can work. This is not a bad thing! This is a good thing! You can work, so don't be dependent. Work, go to school, like so many other do, and get yourself to a point that you can buy all the snakes you want without financial worries!
 
srsb said:
Sierra, I know you said you didn't care to comment any more, and perhaps that is the best course for all of us. I do wish you would explain why you scoff at people who buy steaks and lobster with food stamps, yet actively encourage someone to buy snakes. I truly do not understand that reasoning.

I agree with those that say if you can go to school, you can work. This is not a bad thing! This is a good thing! You can work, so don't be dependent. Work, go to school, like so many other do, and get yourself to a point that you can buy all the snakes you want without financial worries!
Click to expand...

I may have misunderstood, but the money the op was waiting on was NOT disability or welfare, it was a student loan which is paid back. To me there is a lot of difference between the two. I don't believe that I was scoffing. Everyone deserves to have something nice once in a while, whether they are on food stamps or not. However, when you have worked as a cashier and saw the same people come through month after month being able to eat like kings on tax dollars (when I was making minimum wage and my kids thought chicken was for special occassions), it tends to make you a little bitter.
 
Thanks for the explanation, Sierra. While I still don't agree that student loans should be spent on snakes, I at least see where you were coming from with your statement.

Good luck to the OP.
 
A suggestion for the OP...is there a family member who could loan you the money needed to finish paying for the snakes? Have a written document made up with the plans on paying back the family member, with an interest plan included.
 
I don't recall saying I was going to school full time. I'm attanding classes two days a week because I cannot handle the full load needed all at once so my degree is delayed by an extra five years or so unless they can give me a miracle pill that enhances my endurance and kills the spinal pain.

Like I mentioned earlier- island, small job pool. I cannot lift anything over ten pounds and standing for longer than a few minutes is a heroic effort on my part, walking is doubly so. Most jobs offered to students are highly active or require lotsa standing, if they had a secretarial position and didn't mind me being 20 and slow on my feet, I'd be all over it.

Sierra is correct on the matter though, it is time vs money. If he gives me a five day extension I'll be in the clear, he should be getting back to me this evening. I'm only $150 short. You guys reminded me about tax cheques! I had completely forgotten in headless chicken mode (I tend to think in circles if no one is here to snap me out of it). Mine is coming this week.


Rent and food not a huge problem That's what boyfriends are for, mine has been away several weeks on vacation with his dad, so I had half of the usual income, thought I could hack it when he was leaving, turns out I couldn't.
He would not pay for my kids, and I wouldn't ask him to... unless one of them was dying. it is part of our living together agreement thingy, my apartment, my rules.

Feeding etc I have an extra freezer 7 cubic feet or something that is half full of mice, rats, rabbit meat, chicken, pork, beef, lamb, bones, chicks, livers/ organs etc for my carnivorous pets. I've got about 4 months of stock.
And quarentine tubs are already set up, for about two months now. This isn't a spur of the moment thing, I was prepping tubs before I even made an offer.
 
Susan said:
A suggestion for the OP...is there a family member who could loan you the money needed to finish paying for the snakes? Have a written document made up with the plans on paying back the family member, with an interest plan included.
Click to expand...

I was raised in the foster care system, if I have family its only due to shared DNA.
 
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