Feeling guilty is never a good reason for spending money, but it’s often a necessary one. Whether it’s the Big Issue seller looking miserable in the rain, or the child who’s desperate for the toy you know will be discarded next week, you’ll feel better if you stump up. It’s rational, too, because you know the consequences of walking away. A homeless person may need to turn to more nefarious ways of earning; the child may make your life unbearable. Julian Dobson, editorial director, New Start Online magazine