The little old lady who lives downstairs from me is lovely. Shes 86 and gets about a fair bit and sees family fairly often but as I'm in town every day for work I told her if she ever isn't up for going out to let me know and I can pick stuff for her.
So last week there was a note on the door asking me to knock at hers. She asked me if I could get her some sliced beef from my work, gave me a fiver.
I get her the beef (use my staff discount) and drop it into her on the way home. She gave my lad a choc bar and £2 for his money box and point blank refused to take the £3 change.
So this week she's put a note on again, she's already given my boy a quid and a bag of choc buttons. I can't keep the change again. It means she's paying £7 every time for a few slices of beef which is ridiculous!
I don't want to offend her but I need to give her the change!
Should I put in an envelope and post it thru the door? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Why don't you maybe buy her some flowers or something similar. If she's really insisting on not having the money back? That way she would have something beautiful to look at. Or maybe a magazine or two?  |
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"Why don't you maybe buy her some flowers or something similar. If she's really insisting on not having the money back? That way she would have something beautiful to look at. Or maybe a magazine or two? "
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"Why don't you maybe buy her some flowers or something similar. If she's really insisting on not having the money back? That way she would have something beautiful to look at. Or maybe a magazine or two? "
I said that to my mum but she thought it would be odd to buy her stuff with her own money |
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"Also give her a few extra slices of the beef
A valentines card for her maybe? Brighten her day up a bit, make her feel special. "
She won't want more beef she's only little and lives alone it'll just get wasted.
I just want her to take the money back!  |
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"Next week get her some beef and don't take any money off her explaining she's already covered it?"
Ah now that could work! She will probably try and chase me down the street.. I might be able to outrun her though |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why don't you maybe buy her some flowers or something similar. If she's really insisting on not having the money back? That way she would have something beautiful to look at. Or maybe a magazine or two?
I said that to my mum but she thought it would be odd to buy her stuff with her own money "
I wouldn't say so personally. Or find out how she pays her gas and electricity. If it's meter where u have to top up. Maybe try and fo that. I don't know. Make her a hamper with nice bits in? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why don't you maybe buy her some flowers or something similar. If she's really insisting on not having the money back? That way she would have something beautiful to look at. Or maybe a magazine or two?
I said that to my mum but she thought it would be odd to buy her stuff with her own money "
She's obviously not concerned over the money, and is being generous to you and your lad.
So what's the problem with doing something nice in kind ?
How about paying for a window cleaner, or a handyman to cone and do oddjobs for her?
Plant up a window box with your son ? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Next week get her some beef and don't take any money off her explaining she's already covered it?
Ah now that could work! She will probably try and chase me down the street.. I might be able to outrun her though "
I helped! I helped! *dances a jig* |
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I would keep it in a money box.and come christmas hand it too her and say what it is or.use it to get her a lovely silk scarf. It isnt really buyingher something with her own money as she has given it to you do it is your money you are getting it with |
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Awww... this is so lovely.
Maybe you could buy some biscuits and go in for a cuppa with her. Just explain to her that you're really happy to help her out and you don't need to keep the change.
If she insists again then how about you suggest a charity you support and pay it forward? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Awww... this is so lovely.
Maybe you could buy some biscuits and go in for a cuppa with her. Just explain to her that you're really happy to help her out and you don't need to keep the change.
If she insists again then how about you suggest a charity you support and pay it forward? "
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"Awww... this is so lovely.
Maybe you could buy some biscuits and go in for a cuppa with her. Just explain to her that you're really happy to help her out and you don't need to keep the change.
If she insists again then how about you suggest a charity you support and pay it forward? "
I only go on at her to not be afraid to ask because the lady on the other side of me her husband died a few years back of cancer. She still went out and did her shopping all OK. I didn't see her around much but others did. She became unwell and passed away. I assumed she had someone fetching her stuff but I was told that she weighed 5 stone when she died, she basically starved because she wouldn't ask anyone for help.to get her shopping.  |
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Why not just accept it as a little old lady doing something she feels is a nice thing? Perhaps she has grand children she doesn't see often and giving your lad a bit of change makes her feel better about that?
When I was little there was an old lady who live opposite from us. She was the villages surrogate Granny. We would spend all school holidays with her doing craft stuff, making pom poms etc if we found a dead bird or mouse we'd bring it and Bury it in her garden. She would never ask our parents for anything even though it was effectively free child care. Her son and his family lived over seas and so she didn't see them from one year to the other. Having an extended family made her smile and gave her purpose after her husband passed away. She was a very treasured member of the community who us still thought warmly of now. Sounds silly but whenever I make a pom pom (I made a pom pom wreath recently) I smile a little thinking of her. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"The little old lady who lives downstairs from me is lovely. Shes 86 and gets about a fair bit and sees family fairly often but as I'm in town every day for work I told her if she ever isn't up for going out to let me know and I can pick stuff for her.
So last week there was a note on the door asking me to knock at hers. She asked me if I could get her some sliced beef from my work, gave me a fiver.
I get her the beef (use my staff discount) and drop it into her on the way home. She gave my lad a choc bar and £2 for his money box and point blank refused to take the £3 change.
So this week she's put a note on again, she's already given my boy a quid and a bag of choc buttons. I can't keep the change again. It means she's paying £7 every time for a few slices of beef which is ridiculous!
I don't want to offend her but I need to give her the change!
Should I put in an envelope and post it thru the door? "
Just put it in a envelope write nothing on it pop it in her letter box and tell her you don't know anything about it, if she asks. |
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"The little old lady who lives downstairs from me is lovely. Shes 86 and gets about a fair bit and sees family fairly often but as I'm in town every day for work I told her if she ever isn't up for going out to let me know and I can pick stuff for her.
So last week there was a note on the door asking me to knock at hers. She asked me if I could get her some sliced beef from my work, gave me a fiver.
I get her the beef (use my staff discount) and drop it into her on the way home. She gave my lad a choc bar and £2 for his money box and point blank refused to take the £3 change.
So this week she's put a note on again, she's already given my boy a quid and a bag of choc buttons. I can't keep the change again. It means she's paying £7 every time for a few slices of beef which is ridiculous!
I don't want to offend her but I need to give her the change!
Should I put in an envelope and post it thru the door? "
Yeah |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why not just accept it as a little old lady doing something she feels is a nice thing? Perhaps she has grand children she doesn't see often and giving your lad a bit of change makes her feel better about that?
When I was little there was an old lady who live opposite from us. She was the villages surrogate Granny. We would spend all school holidays with her doing craft stuff, making pom poms etc if we found a dead bird or mouse we'd bring it and Bury it in her garden. She would never ask our parents for anything even though it was effectively free child care. Her son and his family lived over seas and so she didn't see them from one year to the other. Having an extended family made her smile and gave her purpose after her husband passed away. She was a very treasured member of the community who us still thought warmly of now. Sounds silly but whenever I make a pom pom (I made a pom pom wreath recently) I smile a little thinking of her. "
I used to think it was better to say no thanks but then someone told me they wanted to be able to give something back, so I changed the way I thought about it all.
She might get a happy feeling from giving you something in return, just as you get a happy feeling from helping her. |
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"Why not just accept it as a little old lady doing something she feels is a nice thing? Perhaps she has grand children she doesn't see often and giving your lad a bit of change makes her feel better about that?
When I was little there was an old lady who live opposite from us. She was the villages surrogate Granny. We would spend all school holidays with her doing craft stuff, making pom poms etc if we found a dead bird or mouse we'd bring it and Bury it in her garden. She would never ask our parents for anything even though it was effectively free child care. Her son and his family lived over seas and so she didn't see them from one year to the other. Having an extended family made her smile and gave her purpose after her husband passed away. She was a very treasured member of the community who us still thought warmly of now. Sounds silly but whenever I make a pom pom (I made a pom pom wreath recently) I smile a little thinking of her. "
I agree with a bit of change but a quid for his money box and a choccy bar is plenty.
For her to be £7 out of pocket every week for something that costs £2 and I don't even have to go out of my way to do it just makes me feel bad.
Although I just had a brainwave. We do xmas saving clubs at work. I'm gonna get one for her. Put the change on it each week then give it to her at the beginning of December. Then her and her family can use it for their xmas goodies |
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"Why don't you maybe buy her some flowers or something similar. If she's really insisting on not having the money back? That way she would have something beautiful to look at. Or maybe a magazine or two?
I said that to my mum but she thought it would be odd to buy her stuff with her own money "
It would,give her her money back with her slices of meat |
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"The little old lady who lives downstairs from me is lovely. Shes 86 and gets about a fair bit and sees family fairly often but as I'm in town every day for work I told her if she ever isn't up for going out to let me know and I can pick stuff for her.
So last week there was a note on the door asking me to knock at hers. She asked me if I could get her some sliced beef from my work, gave me a fiver.
I get her the beef (use my staff discount) and drop it into her on the way home. She gave my lad a choc bar and £2 for his money box and point blank refused to take the £3 change.
So this week she's put a note on again, she's already given my boy a quid and a bag of choc buttons. I can't keep the change again. It means she's paying £7 every time for a few slices of beef which is ridiculous!
I don't want to offend her but I need to give her the change!
Should I put in an envelope and post it thru the door? "
I do a similar thing for an elderly man who lives next door. He's one of the nicest guys I know. He's the same.
I simply refuse to keep the change. I just say "No, here is your change". I will be stern if I have to be. He knows that I won't accept it now.
He ends up buying me chocolate or something instead, I don't have the heart to refuse that. He bought my little girl a present one time which made me feel very guilty. It was a new .925 silver necklace and looked bloody expensive.
It makes me feel awkward because I don't want him to buy things, I just like to help. But at the end of the day, he probably feels the same way.
It's hard I know. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why not just accept it as a little old lady doing something she feels is a nice thing? Perhaps she has grand children she doesn't see often and giving your lad a bit of change makes her feel better about that?
When I was little there was an old lady who live opposite from us. She was the villages surrogate Granny. We would spend all school holidays with her doing craft stuff, making pom poms etc if we found a dead bird or mouse we'd bring it and Bury it in her garden. She would never ask our parents for anything even though it was effectively free child care. Her son and his family lived over seas and so she didn't see them from one year to the other. Having an extended family made her smile and gave her purpose after her husband passed away. She was a very treasured member of the community who us still thought warmly of now. Sounds silly but whenever I make a pom pom (I made a pom pom wreath recently) I smile a little thinking of her.
I agree with a bit of change but a quid for his money box and a choccy bar is plenty.
For her to be £7 out of pocket every week for something that costs £2 and I don't even have to go out of my way to do it just makes me feel bad.
Although I just had a brainwave. We do xmas saving clubs at work. I'm gonna get one for her. Put the change on it each week then give it to her at the beginning of December. Then her and her family can use it for their xmas goodies "
This sounds a great idea |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Why not just accept it as a little old lady doing something she feels is a nice thing? Perhaps she has grand children she doesn't see often and giving your lad a bit of change makes her feel better about that?
When I was little there was an old lady who live opposite from us. She was the villages surrogate Granny. We would spend all school holidays with her doing craft stuff, making pom poms etc if we found a dead bird or mouse we'd bring it and Bury it in her garden. She would never ask our parents for anything even though it was effectively free child care. Her son and his family lived over seas and so she didn't see them from one year to the other. Having an extended family made her smile and gave her purpose after her husband passed away. She was a very treasured member of the community who us still thought warmly of now. Sounds silly but whenever I make a pom pom (I made a pom pom wreath recently) I smile a little thinking of her.
I agree with a bit of change but a quid for his money box and a choccy bar is plenty.
For her to be £7 out of pocket every week for something that costs £2 and I don't even have to go out of my way to do it just makes me feel bad.
Although I just had a brainwave. We do xmas saving clubs at work. I'm gonna get one for her. Put the change on it each week then give it to her at the beginning of December. Then her and her family can use it for their xmas goodies "
Good idea |
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I'm sure she'll appreciate something like that 
