Paying it forward...how would you??

[Baloosgirl23]

Hey BB friends! My DH and I are beginning to pay down our debt and plan to be debt free (outside of our mortgage) by 2015. We're doing the Dave Ramsey thing and it's been about a month so far. I thought in the beginning I would hate this with it being so strict, but it's not so bad and we've really noticed where all of our money has been going ~ and it hasn't been pretty! However, we are very fortunate people and have wonderful friends and family. Our DD is very active, healthy and full of life and our two dog-ters (like daughters...) are the sweetest things. We're doing much better than we thought we would so far and I'm having a hard time spending my 'fun' money on nonsense. I really would like to make positive choices with my money and feel that there are so many people that could benefit from it these days. I'm not talking about a lot of 'extra' cash, but even $20 can be helpful to someone. So, here's my question...what would you do to pay it forward to a stranger? I thought about making donations but kind of want to do something different? Pay for someone's groceries or gas. Something like that. Would you accept money from a stranger if they offered it to you? I'm afraid people will look at me funny and say 'no thank you' for trying to be helpful. Does this make sense?? Any suggestions would be appreciated! TIA

 

[magicmom07]

I too am also doing dave ramsey thru a local church and I have decided that when I get a little more on track, I would like to "Pay it forward" by either giving a donation to the church earmarked for Financal peace university" as a kind of scholorship fund for someone else who may not financially be in a place to pay for the class. Or if I personally knew someone with an intrest in the class but without means to pay, I would like to pay their tution for them. My hope is that a lifetime of good will come out my small contribution. I know I probably never would have gone had my parents not payed my way and now I love it and wish I did it years ago!

 

[ccgirl]

I'm not sure if I would give money to a stranger nor would I take it. My best advice is that there are so many people reaching out to the food pantries than have before. A monetary donation is great for them because they can go to the main food bank and get what they really need at dramatically discounted prices. In addition, they really need personal care items such as toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes etc. as food stamps only cover food. People who are really having a hard time have great difficulty affording this. I thank you for thinking of others. I recently found work after being laid off for 3 months (for the second time in a year). I considered myself so fortunate to have found employment again that I took my first check and went out and purchased pajamas, shoes, medical supplies, etc for a drive that my DD school was conducting for the Haitian relief. As you said, $20 may not seem like a lot to you but even $5 can make a difference in someone's life! Kudos to you.

 

[SaraJayne]

Hey BB friends! My DH and I are beginning to pay down our debt and plan to be debt free (outside of our mortgage) by 2015. We're doing the Dave Ramsey thing and it's been about a month so far. I thought in the beginning I would hate this with it being so strict, but it's not so bad and we've really noticed where all of our money has been going ~ and it hasn't been pretty! However, we are very fortunate people and have wonderful friends and family. Our DD is very active, healthy and full of life and our two dog-ters (like daughters...) are the sweetest things. We're doing much better than we thought we would so far and I'm having a hard time spending my 'fun' money on nonsense. I really would like to make positive choices with my money and feel that there are so many people that could benefit from it these days. I'm not talking about a lot of 'extra' cash, but even $20 can be helpful to someone. So, here's my question...what would you do to pay it forward to a stranger? I thought about making donations but kind of want to do something different? Pay for someone's groceries or gas. Something like that. Would you accept money from a stranger if they offered it to you? I'm afraid people will look at me funny and say 'no thank you' for trying to be helpful. Does this make sense?? Any suggestions would be appreciated! TIA

While we don't do Dave Ramsey, we do "pay it forward" a bit to my DH's niece.

She's a single Mom who is struggling, so we help her and she's very appreciative (to the point of tears) of what we do for her.

Though we weren't single parents, I was raised by one and DH and I were poor as church mice when we were first married and didn't have anyone to help us...so helping her is our way of giving back.

Do you have anyone in your family/friends circle that could use a small boost?

Or what about your church family? Is there anyone that could use some help? Maybe ask your pastor if she/he knows of anyone that's struggling. You could always make an anonymous donation to the family.

I wanted to add ~ good for you for wanting to help out and give back. Not many are willing to do that. Kudos to you.

 

[irisesareblue]

I would keep the money in my wallet and wait until I was in the right situation - God usually engineers a situation for us to be able to bless someone else. Just wait and listen to that still smal voice inside you - you'll no doubt soon have someone in need right before your eyes (and heart). Blessings!

 

[LovableGluttons]

I would keep the money in my wallet and wait until I was in the right situation - God usually engineers a situation for us to be able to bless someone else. Just wait and listen to that still smal voice inside you - you'll no doubt soon have someone in need right before your eyes (and heart). Blessings!

This is right on!

One of my kids told me about a classmate who had been evicted from thier home because the mother had lost a job. DH and I purchased a local grocery store giftcard and I brought it to the school to give to the principal.

Per the principal, the student was not evicted, the mother was not laid off at all, she was on public assistance.

I felt snookered and left with my giftcard.

They have since moved away. I hope it helped them a bit.

DH and I always keep an extra one in the house just in case we stumble upon someone else in a similar situation.

I do think God had a big hand in this!

 

[clh2]

Don't forget - giving someone a "boost" doesn't always require cash!

There are many things that can be done that only require the "gift of time".

As examples...our church operates a "trading post" where people who need things (i.e. baby clothes, strollers etc) can get things. These are often donated by people who have outgrown them. This is a great concept, but people are needed to staff it.

Our church also needs babysitters, i.e. for new member classes for their parents.

Our church has a whole bulletin board of volunteer opportunities, ranging from visiting at church-sponsored elderly housing complex.

There are plenty of other "non-church" organizations that need help - food banks, humane societies etc.

I applaud you for wanting to give something back...but it can be volunteer-related too!

 

[kidtink]

This past weekend my DD and I were selling Girl Scout cookies at an area Kroger. Our 1st customer of the day was a man who bought three boxes of cookies and told the girls to give them to the next 3 senior citizens that came in the door. He said to make sure that they told them it was free and wanted nothing for it. It took an hour for the girls to give all the boxes away for two reasons: 1. The number of people who wouldn't accept it (people don't like taking free things). 2. Others added to the total to help "pay it forward". We ended up giving away 10 boxes of free cookies.

What is best about the way this man "paid it forward" was not the three boxes of cookies he paid for, but the valuable lesson he taught my Girl Scouts that day. So remember, there are tons of way to pay it forward. It doesn't take money and therefore doesn't need to wait until finances are better.

 

[QVCshopper]

I think you should look into your local foodbank. That way, your donation goes to someone local who is sure to appreciate it. I once gave extra baby formula to my local foodbank (still in unopened containers with lots of time left) and got a personal handwritten note from the director. Now, that's always where I turn with my donations, as the gift is used well and greatly appreciated. I know they always need larger diaper sizes as well.

While your initial idea is very kind, you may be helping someone who doesn't necessarily need the $. I think it's better to go to someone who does need the $. Believe me--I was there as a kid--and appreciated everything I was given.

 

[ohlas]

Wow that is nice if you know of a someone on your street that needs it you can always put the 20 in their mail box, just write on the envelop (ugh i hate spelling that word) have a great day pay it forward. It werido how we look at other people like they are crazy if they talk to you or try to be nice to you.

I give people change all the time when they are short even when they dont like it. some times im even rude about it, like just take it, your holding up the line.

Last time i payed for someones lunch you would think i was trying to beat the guy up... made him take my 6 dollars...

or keep it and the the next time you see someone needing a couple of dollars just walk up and payfor it... when they say ugh or no just look at them and say "say ty" which they will say "your welcome and a good day" and go on with your buisness so later they can say some crazy lady paid for my mcd's when my card when beep over limit

 

[jgates]

For food pantries the best donation is cash (normally) as they have the resources to purchase foods from sources at a greater discount than we do in the store. Our local food pantry indicates they can get 2 to 4 times as much with cash donations than the equivalent amount donated in actual food. (Does that make sense?) In other words you can donate $20 or $20 worth of groceries. With your $20 cash they can get $40 to $80 worth of groceries so the cash works better for them. There! I think that made sense!

 

[JSwitzer77]

I Dave Ramsey and the true financial peace that is gained from following his advice. DH and I attended his course at our church a few years back. It has changed our lives and we are headed in the right direction to change our family tree!

Here are a couple of the ways I have Paid It Forward. A couple times I have paid for the order of the car behind me in line at a drive through. It's a bit of a gamble since you probably don't know what they ordered and they could be supplying an Army. LOL The last time I did this, the young teenage girl (didn't look happy to be working that day) just about hugged me through the window. She kept saying, "You don't know them? And you want to buy their lunch? Seriously?" And was buzzing people through her headset to tell them what was going on. I started to get a little embarrassed. Finally I just said, "I've been having a tough day and thought I would brighten someone else's." [We were moving to our new home that day and I was HOT and worn out!]

Another time I was buying a few groceries (less than $10). I had $25 in Blow Money and slipped it to the clerk with instructions to apply it to the bill of the older lady behind me. She had the kind/amount of groceries that just let you know she was buying bare necessities. The clerk was and I left before the lady knew what happened.

The most generous things I have done have been for waiters/waitresses. One lady was actually in our Financial Peace class and had talked about taking a second job to help out...she didn't say where at the time. Nearly a year after the class ended, we ran into her in a local restaurant. She was waiting on our family and seemed like she might recognize us but just couldn't place it. When we left, my husband handed her a $100 bill for a tip...I think the entire check was $20-25. We didn't want to leave it on the table. Her reaction was beautiful. We didn't tell her about the class as it seemed like it might be a little condescending that way?? Like we made it before she did ... or something.

Anyway, those are my ideas. I've been slacking in this area lately. (Probably because I just paid for our Disney vacation!) Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

My sister does this lots of times...
She is in the drive thru line at Starbucks or a fast food place.. She tells the cashier that the extra amount is for the person after her.. Or she asks how much their bill is and pays for it exactly.. She figures if she does this to someone bood karma will come back to her too...

 

[Baloosgirl23]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas! There are so many ways to pay it forward and I'm just glad that I'll be able to help out a little here and there. Here's to making the world a better place to be ~ cheers to you all!!!

 

[Planogirl]

You could take some pet food or other supplies to a small animal shelter. I just thought of this when you mentioned your pups. I think that actually buying the stuff and taking it personally is a bit different.

 

[Planogirl]

I would keep the money in my wallet and wait until I was in the right situation - God usually engineers a situation for us to be able to bless someone else. Just wait and listen to that still smal voice inside you - you'll no doubt soon have someone in need right before your eyes (and heart). Blessings!

I have trouble not spending cash if I have it but this is a nice idea. I agree that opportunity usually presents itself.

 

[cats mom]

So, here's my question...what would you do to pay it forward to a stranger? I thought about making donations but kind of want to do something different? Pay for someone's groceries or gas. Something like that. Would you accept money from a stranger if they offered it to you? I'm afraid people will look at me funny and say 'no thank you' for trying to be helpful. Does this make sense?? Any suggestions would be appreciated! TIA

I paid for someone's gas the other day; not my intention going in, just one of those situations that presented itself. I noticed the guy at the pump next to me was having credit card problems, then I heard him on the phone trying to find someone to bring him cash, I also gathered that he was trying to get to work at the air base (not some place you want to be late). You should have seen his face when I handed him $10 and asked if that was enough to get him to work. He was one very relieved young man.
I don't know that I'd just offer to pay for someone's gas without having some idea of the situation though.

Interestingly a friend mentioned just today that whenever the financial situation seemed insurmountable for her family, someone would offer them extra school supplies, or hand-me-down clothes, or even just leave a treat on their doorstep... and whatever it was, it always seemed to be just enough to lift their spirits and get them through a tough time.

I'm sure there are lots of opportunites out there, you just need to be open and looking for them.

 

[SandrA9810]

There's a section in the newspaper called ticked off... and "on the flip side". I love reading the comments in there. A lot of times, it people wanting to thank strangers for paying for a meal at a diner, for returning a lost item, returning a lost wallet with everything still in it.

My g'mother seems to have very good karma. A few years back when she was in better health, we took a walk to the local shopping plaza (maybe 5 blocks away), and on our way there a lady pulled over and offered us a ride. She's had a few people pay for meal at the Cracker Barrel. There was even a guy that bought her a light sweater, she was complaining that it was cold (as she's always cold) and so the man let her use his coat until he was ready to leave. He went into the shop and bought a jacket and put it around her before taking his back.

And so many people here have mentioned using their extra dining credits from the DDP to use on another family.

Just leave that 20 stashed in the back of your wallet, and the opprotunity will come along. Just turn around and chat with the person behind you in line. Eaves drop on some one at a restuarant. When i'm working I listen for key words that I can relate to, or since a lot of people work at disney, I pay attention to their costume to see where they work at and if I worked there before.

 

[budbeerlady]

There are lots of options:

Here its a drive thru differnce. You pay for the next person in lines coffee, lunch, breakfast, tolls, whatever.

Also I have been active on Wish Upon a Hero. There are so many people right now who need clothes for their kids, new shoes, toilet paper, etc. I love a good bargin hunt so I try to fufill the wishes for kids clothes. I send out Alice.com boxes to people who wish for paper goods, shampoo, laundry soap, etc.

Another idea is buying the items that are really on sale, the loss leaders in a store and donating those. I do savings Angel, so when I get free packs of bar soap or $.25 shampoo and free toothpaste with my coupons I buy all I can with the coupons. I stack it away in the closet, dd came home with a slip of paper that this month they were collecting for a women/ childs shelter. Stuff to give people when they show up with the clothes on their backs. I was happy to load up her backpack and start fresh. Dd also took our stash of disney soaps from our last trips for the kids. I keep them each day wrap from Pop, they are perfect for dd to take to camp or camping in the summer.

 

[Evi]

I know our local csa takes donations that are then used to subsidize shares for people who need a little help. Maybe you could look into something similar. Or consider volunteering items to a local shelter lots of shelters look for personal care items and bedding. You could find out if they need something on a regular basis and when you feel you have a little extra you could buy something and drop it off.