How generous are you?

[Beanie]

Yes, I would have done the same...

 

[CamColt]

It would depend on the situation, but most likely yes, I would.
Yesterday I chaperoned DS's field trip. At the gift shop I had to take care of 4 kids and be sure they had enough for their purchases. 1 girl was short .24 cents so I gave her a quarter...which she dropped so I gave her another. Another kid was short .56 which I gave him and then when he unrolled his dollars to pay he realized he had lost a $10.00. We had to leave then to go to a show, but went back before we left and I bought him a few things that came to $8.32. He wanted more things but since I knew the bus was waiting for us I told him enough with the shopping.

 

[ainmama2001]

I've done that. I felt really good about it too.

 

[Kitty 34]

Yes, I have done that.

 

[Gramto6inPa]

My husband and I try to do what we can do to help people.Not usually with money but helping with other things such as chores,errands and doing small repairs.When ever they offer to pay us,we tell them no- that maybe someday we'll need some extra help and someone will help us.

 

[jajuan]

I have 4 children and sometimes I don't want to get them all out of the car just for a Starbucks. So...my DS11 went into Target to get me one and he had a Starbucks gift card. Well...they don't take Starbucks gift cards at our Target Starbucks so this lady behind him paid over 4.00 for my Mocha Frappicinno and said "tell your mother to have a great day". I thought that was the sweetest thing. I parked the car, got the kids out and went to pay her and she wouldn't accept it. I had a tear in my eye (I am a softie). It happened months ago and I think of it often.

 

[gr8tpanther]

Yes, I would. I work for a loan company and I had a customer who was having a hardship and coudln't make their loan payment. They had NO money, not even to feed their kids, so I paid their loan payment for them and gave them some extra money for food...

I didn't even give it a second thought. My boss was like "I hope you KNOW these people" I said, yes, and I am not worried about it.

They did pay me back, but I didn't hesitate to give the money.

 

[jan/cape]

gallaj0,
I can't stop laughing at your comment about not helping on old lady if "she were buying smokes and a scratch ticket" . It just struck my funny bone. maybe it was the visual that is now stuck in my head. Thanks for tha laugh!!
Jan

 

[BostonTigger]

For a few cents then sure.

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

I like to help out when I can, here and there. I think it all comes back to you someway

But my favorite thing to do is when I see a child sitting on one of those "rides" outside stores. Like the horses, trucks, little merry go rounds - I love to drop the money in them - to see their faces light up. I check to make sure they aren't putting the money in and I will say -- "Okay are you ready? This one is on me." and I drop the money in and away they go...

some of them have been so excited...

I did this a lot when I was younger ... don't see those machines as much as I used to and now as a mommy I see how some mommies might get a little annoyed with me.

 

[mtblujeans]

I was at the grocery store one day when a young woman with an elderly gentleman and two small children was trying to get milk, cereal, and orange juice with a WIC card. The checker told her the card would not be active until the next month. I offered to buy her few grocery items for her and I think it embarrassed her and she refused and left very quickly. That upset me very much because I just can't imagine allowing my own children to go hungry because I was too proud to accept help. By the time I got home and told my DH about it, I was crying. I just kept thinking about those babies at home and hungry. My DH told me that if I ever run across a situation like that again to pull out my checkbook and buy a young mother what ever she needs and he would be OK with that. I could not have loved my DH more at that moment. He makes me a better person.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think moments like these are what life is all about. Sharing with others and reaching out to people.

I am sure when I give $ to someone it makes their day but you know, it makes MINE even more.

Tonight I was able to give a Lance Armstrong bracelet to a young girl who lost her grandfather last Dec. 23. She lit up when she received it. I know that that band meant something to that young girl.

Today I gave another young girl a Mickey cookie cutter from WDW. She had mentioned it to me before my trip and was thrilled to receive it. I'm hoping she'll bring me a RiceKrispy treat shaped MM though! LOL

I randomly give free haircuts and products to my clients. I know I'll never get rich doing this but, heck, it just feels good to be able to give people a surprise every now and then.

I have also been on the receiving end. Had someone buy our meal at WDW once--that was way cool!
Two weeks ago at a craft fair, this lady who had a jewelry booth came up to DD and gave her a pair of earrings for no other reason than she just wanted to give something away.

It all reminds me of the saying, "You'll never be rich until you give of yourself."

Great thread.

 

[aprilgail2]

Originally posted by Buckalew11
I

Tonight I was able to give a Lance Armstrong bracelet to a young girl who lost her grandfather last Dec. 23. She lit up when she received it. I know that that band meant something to that young girl.

.

Where can I get one of those? Can you buy them in stores?

 

[poohtown]

Originally posted by mtblujeans
I was at the grocery store one day when a young woman with an elderly gentleman and two small children was trying to get milk, cereal, and orange juice with a WIC card. The checker told her the card would not be active until the next month. I offered to buy her few grocery items for her and I think it embarrassed her and she refused and left very quickly. That upset me very much because I just can't imagine allowing my own children to go hungry because I was too proud to accept help. By the time I got home and told my DH about it, I was crying. I just kept thinking about those babies at home and hungry. My DH told me that if I ever run across a situation like that again to pull out my checkbook and buy a young mother what ever she needs and he would be OK with that. I could not have loved my DH more at that moment. He makes me a better person.

I've given people money at the checkout line a lot of times, and I always make a lighthearted remark about how I usually don't carry cash and when I do I always seem just a little short. The reason is because like the poster above, they seem very embarrassed. Sometimes if I see someone struggling to find change (like for the phone, soda machine, or to get their kid something from the gumball machine) I'll just walk by and put a couple quarters on the machine and keep walking.

 

[arminnie]

Forty years ago I was trying to make a purchase in a drugstore and was short 2 pennies - I had estimated the tax wrong. If I had paid the money I would not have had enough for bus fare home. This nice lady paid the 2 cents so I could make my purchase. Funny how I have NEVER forgotten her kindness to me.

Just a few months ago I was at the Buy the Book store at MGM (next to Sci-fi drive in). A lady was going to buy a book - she had gotten enough money from her husband for the book and he had gone on. They were from another country and had not anticipated the sales tax. She was going to put the book back and I paid the tax for her - she really did not want to take it ,but I insisted. The CM thanked me and said he was not allowed to give anyone money that was short.

I give a fair amount of money to various charitable organizations. I generally don't give to panhandlers because of my experiences in CA where it has almost become a business.

But I don't ever want to become so attached to my money that I don't want want to help others.

 

[minnie56]

I like to remember that "To whom much is given, much is expected"

It makes me feel good to to help someone in need, however small.

 

[HollyJoy]

Oh surely! Of course it would depend on the amount!

 

[yourtravelpro]

Originally posted by lovemygoofy
I'm sorry if I made it sounds like I was tooting the proverbial horn about us. I reread what I wrote and realized that it sounded very snotty.

Tina

I didn't think it sounded snotty at all. As a matter of fact, I think it sounded very nice. I didn't take it as bragging, I took it that you were really proud of what you do and get excited about doing this. I think it's wonderful!!! You both sound like very good people!!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Of course, but you have to be careful not to embarress the person. I was once behind a young girl in the grocery store. She had a baby with her that looked to be about six months old. She was buying things like bread, milk and laundry detergent. She had nothing extravagant. The total of her merchandise came to a little over $30. She wrote a check, but the cashier told her they could not accept it because they had a check she had previously written returned. I was very obvious that the poor thing was having financial trouble. She picked up her baby and started to walk away. I went to her and asked her if she would be offended if I paid for her groceries. I told her that there were times in my life when I had been in financial trouble also and that sometimes these things just happen. She started to cry, but told me she would really appreciate it and that she would pay me back. I went back in the store and bought her groceries. I didn't give her my name or address. I told her not to worry about it. She just broke my heart, but I was so happy knowing that I'd helped someone truely in need.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I just actually did something like that on my weekend at Cedar Pt a few weeks ago. We ended up "odd" on tickets....since we took a friend of my 2 kids. There were buy 1 get one free....and when I went in they automatically gave me 2 tickets....the rest of the family and crowd already went in......I just stood on the side of the line and the first person I saw that was buying one at full price....I gave it to her....I think it was a teenager with a bunch of friends (odd one out for buy one get one free).....anyway that saved her about 35.00 I believe...she said "thanks" but didn't seem to be really "thankful" for it!...BUT...it made me feel good!!