Thank you gift for neighbor use of snow blower?

[monkey30]

Additionally, whenever we travel in winter we always bring him some regional beer from our destination (the neighbor thinks we should spend a week each month in Canada during the winter He loves Canadian beer!).

Smart man!!!

We have a friend that surprised us at xmas and dug out our driveway for us. We normally only shovel if we have to as our drive way is gravel and a PITA to do!!LOL If they are out and about clearing sidewalks with the tractor they will stop by our place. We do other stuff for them like take their kids if they have an appt, or help them out with computer stuff (DH like his computers!!LOL) so its all returned eventually.

I would just bake or make them something nice, and then maybe at the end of the season do something else.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My DH plows for our 2 neighbors. They usually send over brownies or other home made goodies which we is very nice of them.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Also every winter and sometimes more than once, we give the neighbor a gift card to the gas station to cover the gas (we don't operate he does--plus we wouldn't know how to mix properly--our lawnmower has a battery) and six packs of better beer. Additionally, whenever we travel in winter we always bring him some regional beer from our destination (the neighbor thinks we should spend a week each month in Canada during the winter He loves Canadian beer!).

What a great idea!

 

[KirstenB]

Our neighbor plowed out our driveway. We gave him a gift card to Food Lion, but I also like the idea of a gas card.

 

[scrapquitler]

I'd buy a GC for the local gas station, plus send over a plate of cookies.

 

[jme829]

How about a gc to Caribou Coffee or Starbucks?

 

[angwill]

Speaking as the neighbor that is always lending tools and such no gift is needed just fill the tank and say thank you that's perfect. Also be there if they need to borrow anything. If you get into giving gifts then it makes you each feel obligated every time you need help and then if one is financially strapped they will be afraid to ask and that is not what good neighbors are all about. Just my two cents.

 

[Melrosgirl]

My dh does practically the entire street's driveways. There are some neighbors that I prefer he just ignore, but he does the driveway anyways. (He's the nice one in the marriage.)

He only expects a thank you. Some neighbors have brought over bagels, gasoline or beer (he rarely drinks though, LOL).

When we returned from vacation last winter though, we came home to 5 inches of snow and ice on our driveway. Every neighbor knew we were gone that week,yet not one chose to shovel our driveway for us. It sat there for 3 days while we were away.

I wasn't happy and remind dh of this each day he snowblows for them, but again, he's the nice one in the family.

 

[nordkin]

I am the one with the snowblower and I allow the neighbors to borrow it. The agreement we have is : I own the blower, they pay for gas, and pay to have it serviced every year, which is about $30. It works out great because two of them have to blow out driveways that are a hundred feet or more and then blow out the street (which is actually a cul-de-sac with grass in the middle thus forming a road around it) to get to the main street just to get out. They are very considerate and a simple thank you was all I was expecting, but they suggested the other arrangement which we can all live with.

 

[kmvand1]

My son was actually hoping to make some money with the last big snowstorm we have had all week. Not one of our neighbors wanted it done. They all shoveled their own driveways and sidewalks, however when my husband was out doing our driveway and the street in front of our house, one neighbor had the NERVE to come as him when he was done "playing" if he wouldn't mind blowing in front of their mailbox.

 

[Bren's Mom]

My dh wouldn't expect anything for letting a neighbor use our snow blower. He's be thrilled that it didn't come back empty...and you've already scored on that front. But I asked him if someone DID get him something what he'd like...and he said a Sears gift card. So I'd say Sears if it's near you or Home Depot or Lowe's...wherever it nearby. And I think it'd be fine to wait until the end of winter. If you don't use it anymore, $25 seems fine. If you use it alot more, maybe $50-100. You'd pay a whole lot more than that to buy a snowplower or get someone to plow you out.

 

[englishteacha]

Something yummy!

When our snowblower broke, we borrowed our neighbor's, filled the gas tank, and I sent over cookies or cake or something edible. This is Maine...some type of snow removal plan is necessary! When that plan fails...bribe the neighbor with cookies!

 

[eatatmidnight]

My DH used to do all the driveways and sidewalks in the cul-de-sac in our old neighborhood. I can honestly tell you that there is nothing he would appreciate more than a handwritten note to say thank you. Of course he'd eat homemade chocolate chip cookies too.

I think that most folks who offer help, in any way, just want to know that what they did made a difference to you.

 

[kkwis2]

My DH tries to do our elderly neighbors' driveway as often as possible, though sometimes they beat him to it since he doesn't get home until later in the evening. They usually would bring over cookies or fresh bread, etc.

Last winter, though, DH did their driveway all winter because the husband had had back surgery and just couldn't do it. They gave him (us) a gift card for a local restaurant ($40 I think but that was shoveling and snowblowing for a whole winter in MN). He was thrilled with it!

I think you can't go wrong with a gift card for either a restaurant or a place like Home Depot or Sears.

 

[bcvdreamer]

We've let our neighbors use our snow blower for the last two big storms, and I we did because we wanted to do it. We didn't expect or want anything in return.

You're a nice neighbor for thinking of a thank you gift!

 

[Evi]

hrm I'd probably give a gift cert to netflix and one to a local pizza place so they can have dinner and a movie.

 

[kawing123]

Why is it that someone cannot just help someone anymore without expecting something in return? This attitude is what is making neighbors less friendly. Just do this out of the goodness of your heart and for those that do no it does not mean anything either. Old fashioned thank you's are the best and gift cards would be absurd.

 

[Topper]

I'd offer to pay for a cleaning/tune-up so that I could use it next year

 

[katied]

At our old house, DH would snowblow the neighbors driveway and walk whenever there was alot of snow. They were a retired couple. Periodically, the wife would bake something and bring it buy (cookies, breads, etc). After one season with alot of snow, they asked DH's favorite baked good (cherry pie) and sent over a whole pie. DH was thrilled. I don't think he would have accepted a gift card - to him it was just part of being a neighbor.

It's worked out great for us now too. We've moved, but still own our old house. These neighbors are great about keeping an eye on things, and call us if anything looks odd. Turned out last fall, someone was trying to break in one day, and they called the police, then us, before anything happened. (not sure what they would have gotten - house is empty, but could have caused damage).

 

[wdwfan16]

If I borrowed a snowblower I would return it full and then get them a gas gift card.

We have a snowblower and we don't lend it out. DH will clear out the driveway of two older women in our area. One makes DH good that she later brings down. She makes a soup that DH loves that I never made. He loves it. They do offer him gas and he says it takes so little time to do that he does not need gas.