Ever paid for someone else's shopping?

snakepit

Not really someone’s shopping but was behind a homeless person in home bargains one time, they had a healthy snacks type thing costing 29p (clearly the cheapest thing they could buy in the shop) and he gave the woman on the till all his money only to be told rather snottily that the 5p was actually a foreign coin she couldn’t accept. I gave him a £1 (the only cash I had on me at the time), he tried to refuse so I gave it to the cashier and then told him to take the change. He was so grateful it made me feel really bad that that was all I could do. I waited until he had left the shop before giving the cashier a mouthful - whilst I realise she had a job to do they would find more than 5p cleaning up that night (or she could have put it in the till from her purse when she ended her shift). I was just gob smacked that somebody could treat another human being that way for 5p 

ChelleC

Yes I have.I didn't nosey and overly moralise what they had in their basket! It was just before Christmas anyway as I recall. I just paid the £5 the elderly man was short.  The poor man was in tears, I just told him Merry Christmas.
 
I have also paid people's busfares if they haven't had enough.

It can happen to any of us, of any age, at any time, for whatever reason.What goes and around comes around!:)

Motherofcelticdragons

As a young mum, someone paid for my sisters shopping once, and it was very much appreciated. My mum has since paid for a young mums shopping too.

I wouldn't judge the contents of the shopping or the reaction after if and when I get a chance to do similar. We still bought wine when we shouldn't have. We still bought toys when we shouldn't have. Lots of us are here because we made financial mistakes in the past. Research shows time and time again that few people are shown how to manage money at home, and obviously schools historically haven't taught it. So where are people supposed to learn these things?

Nah, I'd like to think I would have added in the wine, and paid, and whilst a thank you would have been nice, appreciated that people's embarrassment or pride can cause negative reactions...

Ps my sister was a young mum over 20years ago and I still think about that person who paid for her shopping. That's the impact you can have.

spurdog1

The opposite really, but I will with someone else in future.

I went into a DIY shop, yes "those big ones". I felt such a prat leaving my wallet at home, which I discovered at the till. the cost was £3.50 and the shop wouldn't allow me to phone through.

A gentleman gave me a fiver, so I put the change (as he'd left, in their charity box, and sent £10.00 to Barnardo's).

How kind people are.

Apintplease

Yes I have paid in the past, and would do in the future

Same as paying a bus fare or a cab fare

Im not rich, but Im lucky Im not struggling so I do believe in that popular saying of paying it forwards. If I can help someone I will

GaleSF63

ChelleC said:

Yes I have.I didn't nosey and overly moralise what they had in their basket! It was just before Christmas anyway as I recall. I just paid the £5 the elderly man was short.  The poor man was in tears, I just told him Merry Christmas.
 
I have also paid people's busfares if they haven't had enough.

It can happen to any of us, of any age, at any time, for whatever reason.What goes and around comes around!:)

He won't forget that.
I once opened my purse on the bus on the way home from school to find there was nothing in it, and was in an awful embarrassed panic. The lady on the opposite seat paid my fare for me. It was over 50 years ago, and I've never forgotten. I would do the same because of that kind lady.  

BookEnthusiast

Yes I have, online only.  I'm not rich, but if my cupboards are full and someone else is struggling I will.

dekaspace1

No, for the simple reason which may seem bad that over the years even when I was at my lowest I was never looked at for support, but at the same occasions seen people who sometimes was very clear, othertimes it was a guess get support when it seems their own lifestyle is the reason for not being able to afford something, and they had visible things that made them seem not quite as poor as they implied i.e a expensive phone a modern car, and smaller things like they bought the more expensive products in the food line.

That and when for example I would have enough to buy like a loaf of bread for my weekly food, having someone tell me they were higher priorty than me because of things like having kids, they don't know me and all I know is they have kids they claim to not be able to feed, because I chose to not bring kids into the world that I couldn't afford, because I chose to live in cheap accomodation and other such so I didn't live above my means I got no support but people who lived above their means did. I have actually been in situations multiple times over the years where basically i'm told as I have a roof over my head, don't have debt collectors knocking at my door etc I am not a priority.

Im useless at times wording myself so it may seem bitter but im not, but more burned out and been ignored so much since childhood that I noticed people have more sympathy for certain types of people i.e people with kids (which whilst understandable in some ways, again means others get ignored)

For my friend that was sectioned I used to give him excess food I had such as yellow sticker stuff.

spurdog1

Just remembered a neighbour who was so poor, husband died young, at a time when Women gave up work after marriage. To this day i don't know how she managed.

I did a lot of sea fishing, bringing back some lovely fish. If i had offered she would have said "no". 

So to the opposite plan, I "bought so much fish home the freezer was full, any chance you could help us? Perhaps you'd like some.".

It wasn't alot of fish, tails of Pollack, but I made sure every time she had two/three meals. She was a wonderful lady. Always had an interest in me, wanted to learn.

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

We've paid for peoples meals before around Christmas. When we went to Dublin we got to talking to a lady who was running a tea stall outside a church so we helped out for a bit. 

I've tried to pay for a homeless persons meal in a chip shop before (He was outside begging, I didn't want to give him money so asked the chip shop if I could pop some money behind the till so the guy could get a warm meal later) and they refused as they "didn't want his sort" in the place. We avoid that place now!