Money Moral Dilemma: Should I give my friend the cash I made selling her unwanted clutter?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I've been helping a friend declutter her house, and took a car load of stuff to the tip. There were some items I suggested she could get cash for if she put them up for sale, but she said she couldn't be bothered. I hate waste, so took two of the items home and, with a bit of effort, sold them online, making about £30. Should I give her the money, offer to split it with her or keep it?

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thorsoak

If I had helped a friend to declutter, and had taken her stuff to the tip and then sold some bits on line, I would have no hesitation in handing her the money that her "unwanted" stuff had earned.   It may well encourage her to carry on the decluttering - with or without my help.   Knowing my friends, they would immediately say "wonderful - thank you so much - now let's go out and have a wonderful celebratory meal/evening/cinema/theatre trip on the proceeds".   But you will know what you - and your friend would do.

tacpot12

I would offer them half, with the other half being mine for the work I had done to make the money for both of us. This seems fair. 

suejb2

“She couldn’t be bothered “ their loss. You could be bothered so your gain. Keep it.

MalMonroe

If it were one of my friends, I would give her the whole amount. Wouldn't even have to think about it. I have some lovely friends and I know they'd do the same for me. They'd probably suggest putting it towards a meal out (when coronavirus has gone!) together or something. 

This isn't even a dilemma. I couldn't just keep the money without saying anything anyway.

MalMonroe

tacpot12 said:

I would offer them half, with the other half being mine for the work I had done to make the money for both of us. This seems fair. 

That seems mean. It's only £30 and if it were my friend, they could have it all - whether I'd done any work or not. 

goldlemontree

I would keep it 100% -  your time, your effort, you trying not to be wasteful 

janetb88

Having just had a major declutter having downsized - I was more than happy for a friend to keep any money they made from recycling stuff - ( as it was they or family kept it) I didn’t have the time or the inclination- I would have just taken it to the tip 

tripled

I assume the OP and the friend are bubbled - or live on the Isle of Man. The OP could offer to split it with her, or perhaps have a evening together sharing a takeaway with the proceeds? Not much else to do at the moment!

A_Lert

Depends on what the friend's like. If they're reasonable, give half, I think that's fair. But if they're known to be grabby, keep quiet; an offer of half will prompt a greedy drama-causer to demand it all.

Vicxie

My brother recently gave me his old phone since he got an upgrade. I realised i had no need for the phone and looked up how much it would sell for. Then i took the phone back to my brother and told him i didn't need the phone and he could make money off it instead. I listed it for him and sent him listing details and he took the details and listed the item too. He eventually found a buyer and kept 100% of his money, no sharing and never expected a penny. But in this situation, your friend consented to you taking the stuff AFTER you had suggested she sell it, whatever it was was now yours and you sold it. That's your money. If you offered to sell it for her, that would be different but she gave it to you because she couldn't be bothered with it. I would not expect my friend to give me the money to an item i wanted to throw away but she sold instead.