Fitty cent

I am often amazed with panhandlers in New York. It seems like the saying "beggars can't be choosers" doesn't apply here sometimes. Recently, I was walking on Houston Street, right next to Whole Foods near the Bowery, and a homeless guy was asking people for "81 cents for a cup of soup" (where do you get a soup for 81 cents in New York City? Wish I would have asked him). Very exact, wouldn't you say? On the one hand I have to hand it to him (pun intended) - he did sound like he needed a cup of soup and didn't ask for a dollar, which was nice. But as a potential money-giver I wanted to ask him: isn't it too much? I mean, i understand that guy was hungry, and needed EXACTLY 81 cents, but... I don't know, if I were to give him money, I would not want him to tell me how much exactly to give. What if I gave him 25 cents instead? Would he tell me: "Sorry, miss, but that's not enough"?
Which reminds me of a story A., my ex-roommate had told me. She was on a subway, going to work, drinking her first cup of coffee when a homeless woman walked in.
"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the interruption. I'm homeless with two kids, and am basically just trying to get by. If you find it in your heart, please give me some money, cup of coffee, or a bagel, anything would be highly appreciated." And she did her round extending the hand. A. didn't have any change, but "in her heart" found that she could share her coffee, so gave it to the woman. What was her reaction? Cursing and throwing the coffee away at the next stop. She didn't want coffee, nor bagel - she wanted money. That's why I think in New York, the ole saying should go: "Beggars can be choosers, and watch out if you give them something they don't ask for".