Ever paid for someone else's shopping?

DD265

Was in a shop recently and a family were struggling to pay for the items they'd chosen. They were reducing the cost by leaving some adult non essentials (wine etc) but kept a fairly large toy for their child when the cashier queried that. I wanted to offer to pay for their shop but I was worried about overstepping because you never know how it will be received. Afterwards I wished I'd made the offer, so I probably would if I found myself in the same situation in the future.

Have you ever paid for somebody else's shopping? How did it go down? Has somebody paid for your shopping before, and did that offend you at all?

[Deleted User]

Yes, I have had the same regret April 2015 there was young couple in front of queue at a frozen food place who had to put back £1 pack of high street bakery freeze to heat Sausage and baked beans rolls.
In that samey time period well a month later, I went to work for this lovely chap who was trying to grow a solar panel energy company, under a bigger group name at the time, who had brought someone's shopping outright, I only worked for them for 2 weeks, I do remember they put me on 'gardening leave' from my telesales job at the time, when I found something better.
I've sat more recently and listened to people the same age as my parents confess they didn't have a proper cooker, that was overriding really quite hard to listen to, just got me.

Sandtree

Personally no, and I would feel less inclined with someone who's trying to buy things like wine.

I have however had someone buy dinner for us randomly... no struggling to pay, no issues with the transaction etc. Was at a fancy burger van outside a craft beer place, chap came up with this story how someone had done the same for him and the only thing he asked in return is that we do the same to someone else randomly. Tried to tell him not to, that someone else would benefit better etc but he insisted.

Paying it forward was almost as painful as receiving it... not from a financial perspective

calleyw

Not all the shopping some young teenagers where in front of me at the till and one didn't have enough money.  So was going to put it through with my shopping as it was like a £1 but the person with me found a small amount of spare change in his pocket enough to cover the sort fall.

Yours

Calley x

elsien

I might help out if it was essential food shopping. Wine and new children’s toys, nope. Both can easily be done without. 

JIL

I was in a well know budget freezer supermarket last year. I was behind a man in the queue who didnt have enough cash to pay for all his shopping so he gave the cashier some children's sweets/ treats back. 
I saw him waiting outside and I paid for the items he had left, and as I left I passed them to him and said, I got you these and walked away. He said " dont you think I've got enough to carry?"  Then followed it with a grunted "thanks anyway"
I didnt want a fanfare, but I was a bit taken aback by the initial reaction.

It wouldn't put me off doing it again though, should the situation arise.

Silvertabby

The elderly lady in front of me at the supermarket checkout was choosing what to put back, as she didn't have enough to cover the whole bill, so I chipped in with the difference (£2 or £3).

Then I passed her at the kiosk on the way out. Seems she had enough money to pay for 200 cigarettes.

74jax

Yes I have, a couple of times. Also bought coffee in Costa for someone and paid for the order behind me in a drive through. 

rach_k

I wouldn't pay for wine and I wouldn't pay for any of their shopping if they were still choosing to keep the toy... but being contrary, if they did decide to put the toy back in order to pay for essentials, I might buy the toy afterwards and try to catch them outside.  Whether they kept the toy or not would be an indicator of how much they really had - if they feel able to choose to buy it, they don't really need my help.

Tokmon

DD265 said:

Was in a shop recently and a family were struggling to pay for the items they'd chosen. They were reducing the cost by leaving some adult non essentials (wine etc) but kept a fairly large toy for their child when the cashier queried that. I wanted to offer to pay for their shop but I was worried about overstepping because you never know how it will be received. Afterwards I wished I'd made the offer, so I probably would if I found myself in the same situation in the future.

Have you ever paid for somebody else's shopping? How did it go down? Has somebody paid for your shopping before, and did that offend you at all?

I wouldn't feel bad about not offering because it's a problem of their own making if they are buying things like wine and toys when they know they are on a tight budget and aren't prioritising food before anything else. 

kayleighali

DD265 said:

Was in a shop recently and a family were struggling to pay for the items they'd chosen. They were reducing the cost by leaving some adult non essentials (wine etc) but kept a fairly large toy for their child when the cashier queried that. I wanted to offer to pay for their shop but I was worried about overstepping because you never know how it will be received. Afterwards I wished I'd made the offer, so I probably would if I found myself in the same situation in the future.

Have you ever paid for somebody else's shopping? How did it go down? Has somebody paid for your shopping before, and did that offend you at all?

Just playing devils advocate, what if it was the child's birthday and that particular shop had a good deal on the toy so that was all they could afford? 

I absolutely agree with others saying they wouldn't pay for alcohol, that's not an essential at all so I wouldn't chip in for that but I have chipped in a few times when someone has been short. I've also paid a few times when I've seen emergency services in buying lunch somewhere. I am by no means a scattercash, in fact, I am on a tight budget myself, but it's nice to be nice