When I worked downtown, I often gave to the homeless, including buying lunch, etc. But one day, I gave a woman a dollar and she said, "Can I have another?" and I sort of got disgusted. Also, because I now work at home, in the suburbs, most of the panhandlers I see are that sort of, "My car broke down -- can you help me?" scammers, and I don't like to support that.

But I do like to be charitable. In Miami, we have a group that sells a little newsletter called Homeless Voice on some corners, with the money to go to the homeless. Now, I give money to them. I also make it a point to tip my bag person at the supermarket, which has a no-tipping policy. In my mind, the bag person is working hard to get by. My supermarket hires the elderly and sometimes the mentally disabled. So I'd rather give my money to someone who is trying hard to eke out a living than someone who might use it to buy drugs (I also get more smiley carry-out service).