Money Moral Dilemma: Is it fair to keep the loyalty points from doing my neighbour’s shopping?

Jemma01

I applaud you for helping the neighbour, not many people care enough to even say hi to their neighbours.

Having said that, if I could get him a separate card, I'd probably do that (assuming it is possible), or when vouchers come along (as in the tesco ones), I'd split them up. He might not understand or even care at all, but I know I'd feel better having done that. I would also discuss the delivery costs if that's bothering me and calculate the trip cost and see if the points make up for it, then explain the bits to him. That's how I'd like to be treated when I'm older.

Nelliegrace

You are paying for your petrol and giving your time, doing the shopping for your elderly neighbour, saving him the delivery charge. I think that keeping the loyalty points seems fair, but if it worries you, ask if your neighbour agrees.

saajan_12

Why on earth do you do a separate trip? Just use two trolleys and go through the checkout in two transactions. Doesn't require using additional fuel (for the environmental aspect, not just the cost).

Either way irrelevant to the loyalty points benefit which was never part of the agreement. You're just buying and getting reimbursed for the price on the receipt, which is less than the neighbour would otherwise pay for taxis or delivery fees. You can use your loyalty card or none, but there's no obligation to sign him up etc, that's a separate favour which you don't have to offer (and indeed would be too miniscule to be worthwhile).

highlander58

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81990188#Comment_81990188

The trouble with jumping into the thread late on - is that you miss stuff. The OP has already explained all this.

saajan_12

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81990351#Comment_81990351

Not missed and gosh a whole day late! that comment didn't make it clear it was the OP speaking, just a potential reason from a commenter and I'm not examining all past posts for who said what.

The explanation does really make sense though, the confusion from 2 shopping lists could be easily mitigated by completing shop 1, depositing it in the car and then re-entering with shop 2. Just as easy / hard as 2 separate trips entirely, but without the need to drive there and back twice.

highlander58

The OP’s original question was about whether to keep the loyalty rewards - not about whether we think they should do 2 shops or not. Let’s just respect their decision (as explained on p3) & move on…
And as you say yourself: the earlier comments comprise only “a whole day”. Hardly a big inconvenience to skim-read: bring yourself up to speed & save a lot of repetition.

Jemma01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81990420#Comment_81990420

These posts dont have a returning comment from the author, the owner is intentionally anonymous by design. There's no expectation that anyone should read the comments.

ZeroSum

What next, are people going to question a months interest earned because the shopping was paid on a credit card?

You have a receipt with cost of goods on, he pays it. Tbh, id probably just round to nearest quid or 50p as couldn't be doing with all the loose change. Some weeks youd click a few pence, others youd lose. Swings & roundabouts in the grand scheme of things.

CapeTown

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81990675#Comment_81990675

WWell the OP did write a returning comment. It is on page 5

TurbulentCourage

Being a financial affairs attorney for a friend, I was in a relatively similar situation where I would do his shopping (before he had to move to a nursing home).

I did most of this at Lidl (where my wife and I also shopped). I benefitted from this, but he did too with the Lidl Plus reduced prices and some of the coupons - a couple of times I used the 10% voucher on his shopping (even though his shopping was well under £250 a month).

For your moral dilemma:

His sister was unhappy that I was his sole financial affairs attorney and she complained to the OPG that I was not looking after his finances properly. They investigated my conduct thoroughly - asking for proof of every penny spent, including the grocery shopping. Even though they knew I was shopping at Lidl for him and I did declare that I was using my app when doing this, they did not question it or say I should not do so.

His sister was even more p****d off when they wrote to let her know I was doing everything correctly.

I didn't benefit that much, as my wife and I hit the £250 every month anyway, but he benefitted a lot more.

As long as you are not buying things he doesn't want/need just to get points for yourself then IMHO you are doing nothing wrong and I hope from the above you can see that the authorities would agree.

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