What do you give that doesn't cost a bean?

OneSpike

I was just thinking about the fact that we're all so strapped for cash and can't be as monetarily generous with our friends and family as we'd like to be, but we all know that 'the best things in life are free', so I wondered what people on the board do for others, in terms of giving time, favours, help etc?

I've just spent the morning nattering with a friend (oh how selfless!). She's just moved house and doesn't have the internet connected yet, so we offered one of our many computers. She spent the morning partly coming to terms with Linux and needing rescuing once or twice, partly sorting out her finances and catching up on email and partly just having a natter about the last week's shenanigens. Her husband went away almost the moment they'd moved so she's been dealing with it all on her own + children. I gave her her housewarming presents of three home-made candles on a glass plate I'd recycled from a big candle I'd melted down to, er, make her candles LOL! After that she was off into town to get some photos printed as her computer isn't hooked up at all yet, so instead we managed to get that sorted out for her here. Not a majorly big deal but it helped her out and I was really pleased we could do it.

For my Christmas present Nathaniel is dismantling the greenhouse our neighbours no longer want, cleaning it all up and erecting it in our garden, and I am soooooooooo thrilled! The same neighbour's rather elderly car is soon to be available and she's giving it to us for nothing, so as her laptop has gone bang we're going to give her my old laptop that's a little temperemental from time to time but fine most of the time. I love all this free swapping about.

One afternoon a week I go to DD's school to help with IT. I've discovered I love doing it and have even thought about becoming a classroom assistant.

I'd love to be able to say I visit the sick or look after a little old lady, but so far haven't added that to my repertoire! I'm sure plenty on here do, or help/give in various ways. Hope I don't sound to fromage-esque!

Rachie_B

awww no i think its lovely
so thoughtful

LookingAhead

What a lovely thread!

I give PC support to friends & family where possible as I am fairly competent shall we say!

I also encourage friends & family to talk to me about problems as I mostly prefer to talk about *them* than me unless I really have a bee in my bonnet! I get some nice feedback saying they feel better after a chat with me so that is good and it is free! (Unless you count the tea & biccies I like to provide where possible!)

I give some unwanted clothes away to a neighbours daughter and mostly send the balance to charity shops now seems the bottom has fallen out of EBAY these days. I'd rather do some good now than make 5p 'profit'.

OneSpike

LookingAhead wrote:

I give some unwanted clothes away to a neighbours daughter and mostly send the balance to charity shops now seems the bottom has fallen out of EBAY these days. I'd rather do some good now than make 5p 'profit'.

Interesting you say that, DD's clothes I've listed recently haven't gone, whereas they used to sell every time without fail. Our local Oxfam has stopped taking children's clothes, so I'm a bit lost as to what to do with them. There's a women's refuge in the nearest city so I think that will be my next port of call.

Well done you for being a shoulder, a good listener is a rare thing :T

Any more :A stories??

whatatwit

I cleaned my mother's lounge windows this morning....Does this count.

elsien

voluntary dog walking, via the cinnamon trust,a charity that helps older people keep their pets, who couldn't manage otherwise.
I have to say though, that there are selfish reasons for this, as when my dog died, I missed having her to walk and switch off after work, so it helped me as much as anyone else.

cattie1

I know this sounds cliche but I always offer to help old ladies struggling with shopping e.t.c, if I see someone I know waiting at a bus stop I give them a lift (if they are going the same way!):D
My mother has no money and feels guilty for not being able to buy any of us presents but instead asked all the family round for xmas dinner and her present to us was the food and that she is cooking, which I think is a lovely gift.

OneSpike

whatatwit wrote:

I cleaned my mother's lounge windows this morning....Does this count.

Yep, definitely - there's something lovely about looking through sparkly clean windows. I started ours this morning - note only 'started'...

Broken_hearted

My time is the most important thing I give.

Mike_St_Helens

Ive a very very good friend, My best friend,. She has lost her 2 dogs and her grandma who she lived with this year, Infact its been a sh1tty year for us both.

I have got a really curte photo albumn from tesco (1/2 price they are !) and inserted loads of oics of our good times, her dogs and grandma all of which I have loads of pics...

I can get the negatives, or digi prints done again if I ever want them.

free.. ish but I like the idea.

sophiesmum_2

Time definately .........

My planned xmas lunch for me Oh DD, mum, dad and brother has now been extended to include 8 elderly residents of the sheltered scheme where i work who would be alone on xmas day otherwise.
will be hard work but worth all the effort if one person doesn't have to spend the day alone.Most of them are in their 80's and do have families but not families who care enough about them to find time for them. Very sad

sophiesmum