Money Moral Dilemma: Should I accept payment for doing my vulnerable neighbours' shopping?

josephorjoe

There is, of course, nothing wrong with accepting the money, especially if they insist on paying, which it seems they do. If you feel that it is too much maybe suggest to each of them that because you are doing them both together, they can split the cost, maybe £1.75 or £2 each, then it will still cover your costs and everyone should be happy.!

diggingdude

They probably want to pay to keep their dignity and feeling of independence.  If you don't want it perhaps use it for some food bank items?

al223

Put them on a 'delivery pass' so it's £5 a month ish rather than £3.50 a time. A compromise if they still want to pay.

AngelaR2

If u can't get out of it accept. Possibly every second or third visit get them a small bunch of flowers.

SteveG2010

As presumably you'll be doing your own shopping too, while you're there, tell them it would be more appropriate to charge them the Click and Collect fee instead. Which for Sainsbury's is currently nil. Oops 😉

Middlestitch

If they can afford it, let them pay and feel they are 'doing the right thing'. Salve your own conscience by adding a little something extra to the shopping bag without charging them for it (obviously don't tell them!).

_nate

Often, it is ruder to reject something than it is to accept it even if you don't feel you need or want it, because the person feels happy giving you it.
If you like, you could donate it to an appropriate charity.

Shibey

only only alternative to the above that I can think of is to say that fuel and parking are only 50% of the£3.50 and so lets agree to do that, stating that they are paying fuel for you to do your own shopping also, and so thank you.

veronica01

I have just saved 22.00 a month on my gas and electric because they changed from green star to shell but they have charged me 30 for changing over when it was the company that changed not me

emb398

As a disabled person myself, I am loathe to ask someone to do things for me if it's not a favour that I will be able to return, except in a genuine emergency. If a neighbour kindly gets me some item, I pay them for it, and offer to get them an item when I put my order in, if they need it. However, if it was more than one or two items, I would either insist on paying a reasonable sum (based on an hourly rate) or just do without! Unless I could contemplate doing a favour of similar value, I could not accept it. If they refused to accept, I would never feel able to ask them to do anything for me again - even in an emergency.  If your neighbours offer to pay, but you refuse to accept it, they may acquiesce on this occasion, but the next time you offer to go you would probably receive a polite refusal, and an assurance that they need nothing, even if the situation is entirely different.  For the sake of your neighbours, I would suggest that you accept the money that they offer, with thanks, and then, perhaps, give it to the foodbank, or some other worthy cause, if you don't want to keep it. Otherwise you may well find that they are, inexplicably, managing Perfectly Well when you offer, even though you are sure that they are not.   It's not easy or nice to admit that you need help, but if you can rationalise that you are paying for a service, you can just about bring yourself to do it! Think yourself lucky - I'd insist on paying at least £10 for a full weekly shop!!