Paying It Forward

Author
Discussion

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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Does anyone regularly "pay it forward"? Or have you paid it forward ever?

I like the concept of buying an extra coffee for someone that either can't afford one or just as a kind gesture for the next person in the queue/person of baristas choice. But, how does that conversation work with the server? Is it a US thing?

Pay it forward doesn't necessarily have to just apply to a coffee. Have you randomly/anonymously paid someone else's bill for shopping/fast food/tickets etc?

I donate to RNLI, but in general am a bit turned off by donating to big charities and pay it forward seems like a way to give but in a less commercial/corporate way.


Edited by FrankAbagnale on Thursday 4th February 09:09

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
rofl

Willy wavers, ASSEMBLE!

How long before someone says they paid their gardener's wife's friend's disabled friend's mortgage, and it was a mere pocket change...?

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
OpulentBob said:
rofl

Willy wavers, ASSEMBLE!

How long before someone says they paid their gardener's wife's friend's disabled friend's mortgage, and it was a mere pocket change...?
Haha! Now you mention it...

Impasse

15,099 posts

240 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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I gave someone 10p for the ticket machine in the car park the other day as she'd run out of change. She seemed pleased.

Go me.

daddy cool

3,996 posts

228 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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FrankAbagnale said:
Pay it forward doesn't necessarily have to just apply to a coffee. Have you randomly/anonymously paid someone else's bill for shopping/fast food/tickets etc?
No one "needs" coffee, fast food, tickets... they are arguably luxuries. Why would you pay for that?

On the other hand, i keep thinking i'd like to upgrade my 40" TV to a 55", so please PM me your bank account details and i'll get it ordered, cheers.

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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Does passing my "all day" car parking ticket onto the next person to come into the car park when I leave count?

I hate paying for parking. Grrr...

StuTheGrouch

5,714 posts

161 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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Impasse said:
I gave someone 10p for the ticket machine in the car park the other day as she'd run out of change. She seemed pleased.

Go me.
Cool story warning!

Once I was in a car park with my daughter in a push chair, having reached the pay machines on the way out. I was 50p short and getting this would have meant going to a cash point, then breaking the note somewhere. My Dad was on an upper level in his own car so I called him and asked if he could bring me 50p down. Just then a guy walked passed and just handed me 50p without saying a word, just smiled.

Such a minor thing but it made my day.

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
daddy cool said:
No one "needs" coffee, fast food, tickets... they are arguably luxuries. Why would you pay for that?

On the other hand, i keep thinking i'd like to upgrade my 40" TV to a 55", so please PM me your bank account details and i'll get it ordered, cheers.
We don't need most things in life but we buy them anyway. It's not about the need or necessity, it's about making a (small) kind gesture.

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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Purity14 said:
I saw a tramp on my way to work, he was a young kid, maybe 20.
He was there most mornings at 5:30, didn't seem the type to just wake up early and set up shop, he had been there all night.
He would ask everyone passing for 10 or 20 pence for some food, I tend to ignore these people.

On the third morning, I thought id buy myself a subway breakfast melt thing for £2.
Unfortunately, it looked abit gross as the girl was making it, and I was put off slightly.

I never opened the packaging, but I offered it to this lad as I went past, because it was either that, or it was going in the bin.
I didn't make a big deal, I just asked him if he wanted this subway breakfast, he just took it off me and put it next to him, didn't even look at me, no thankyou, no nothing, didn't even start eating it.

Still see him sometimes if I set off early, face full of scabs asking for 10 or 20 pence.


So how do you judge who to pay it forward to in the coffee shop, would you base it on their clothing, the fact that they are ordering a medium instead of a large despite it only being 50pence more? Would you eyeball their wallet to see if they had a gold amex, or if they paupering along with a Barclays Debit?


Despite all this "Pay it forward" is american invented bullst. I politely ask that you stop instilling these kind of americanisms into our society, because they piss everyone off.
As above, I see it less of a gesture to those in need. But more an act of kindness.

But, you're right. The less Americanisms in our society the better. You can all buy your own bloody coffees.

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
StuTheGrouch said:
Impasse said:
I gave someone 10p for the ticket machine in the car park the other day as she'd run out of change. She seemed pleased.

Go me.
Cool story warning!

Once I was in a car park with my daughter in a push chair, having reached the pay machines on the way out. I was 50p short and getting this would have meant going to a cash point, then breaking the note somewhere. My Dad was on an upper level in his own car so I called him and asked if he could bring me 50p down. Just then a guy walked passed and just handed me 50p without saying a word, just smiled.

Such a minor thing but it made my day.
We'd all do the same.. wouldn't we?

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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I don't discuss my charity work or donations, because its crass to do so and also because I don't do any.

daddy cool

3,996 posts

228 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
FrankAbagnale said:
We don't need most things in life but we buy them anyway. It's not about the need or necessity, it's about making a (small) kind gesture.
Which is a great thought. But instead of spending the money on someone who already has the money to buy an overpriced coffee, why not give that same amount to someone that is genuinely in need?
Scaling it up, if you were in the Ferrari dealership about to "pull the trigger" (aaarrgh) on the latest model, would you you suddenly decide to also buy the car for the other millionaire thats doing the same at the next desk?

ikarl

3,730 posts

198 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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I once paid a pair of trainers forward, if that counts?

I had recently bought a pair of FrenchConnection trainers and after a reasonably long night drinking/clubbing. Whilst waiting for a taxi a homeless guy walked by, he didn't ask for any money or anything, he just smiled and nodded as he walked past. I assume now it was because we were a group of lads standing in the town centre at 4am making a bit of noise and he was probably scared.

Anyway, the trainers he was wearing had most of the sole on one of them missing, so you could see his sock. He was about 10yds away and I went over and asked him what size shoe he was, we were both the same size, so I took my shoes off and gave him them. Tbh, it could have went either way, but he genuinely looked grateful and thanked me as he walked away.

He may have sold them to get his next fix... or he may have chose to keep his feet warm and dry. Either way I'm sure he appreciated them.

BoRED S2upid

19,644 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
louiebaby said:
Does passing my "all day" car parking ticket onto the next person to come into the car park when I leave count?

I hate paying for parking. Grrr...
Definitely counts I've done it loads of times.

I once paid the balance of the person in front of me in Asda it was pence rather than pounds and was quicker than her leaving a tin of beans behind and recounting get coppers again.

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
daddy cool said:
Which is a great thought. But instead of spending the money on someone who already has the money to buy an overpriced coffee, why not give that same amount to someone that is genuinely in need?
Scaling it up, if you were in the Ferrari dealership about to "pull the trigger" (aaarrgh) on the latest model, would you you suddenly decide to also buy the car for the other millionaire thats doing the same at the next desk?
I'm not sure the Ferrari analogy is a good one, as regardless of wealth, a pound is a pound. Any random gesture of that sum is ridiculous. I'm just talking about something like a coffee which is a small gesture but hopefully would make someones day.

Giving to someone who is genuinely in need is a nice idea, but I don't often see the homeless/people in need. Also, call me a cynic but "professional" tramps put me off the idea.

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
ikarl said:
I once paid a pair of trainers forward, if that counts?

I had recently bought a pair of FrenchConnection trainers and after a reasonably long night drinking/clubbing. Whilst waiting for a taxi a homeless guy walked by, he didn't ask for any money or anything, he just smiled and nodded as he walked past. I assume now it was because we were a group of lads standing in the town centre at 4am making a bit of noise and he was probably scared.

Anyway, the trainers he was wearing had most of the sole on one of them missing, so you could see his sock. He was about 10yds away and I went over and asked him what size shoe he was, we were both the same size, so I took my shoes off and gave him them. Tbh, it could have went either way, but he genuinely looked grateful and thanked me as he walked away.

He may have sold them to get his next fix... or he may have chose to keep his feet warm and dry. Either way I'm sure he appreciated them.
Yeah, that'll do. Nice gesture, made someones day.

Reminds me a bit of the inbetweeners. Are you sure you didn't just take his p*ss stained shoes as the club had a policy of formal footwear and your trainers didn't meet the entrance requirements?

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

187 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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Went to use the loos at an underground station once where there was a 30p charge. Bloke in front only had 20p, so I gave him the 10p he needed to stop him p*ssing his pants.

Then I got to the machine and it refused the 2x 20ps I tried to put in it. Bummer.

I'm part of an online RC car community. If someone needs an obscure part and I have it surplus and of no use to me then I'll sometimes send it on free of charge. It's getting harder to do now as I'm paying more attention to the Royal Mail costs and it's sometimes more costly than I'd hoped!

FrankAbagnale

Original Poster:

1,700 posts

111 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
louiebaby said:
Does passing my "all day" car parking ticket onto the next person to come into the car park when I leave count?

I hate paying for parking. Grrr...
Definitely counts I've done it loads of times.

I once paid the balance of the person in front of me in Asda it was pence rather than pounds and was quicker than her leaving a tin of beans behind and recounting get coppers again.
Yeah, another good one. Take the 30 seconds to walk over and stick your ticket on the machine.

I used to do the Guildford>Reading train journey a lot. I'd always spend the extra 10p for a return and put it on the machine at the other end.

ikarl

3,730 posts

198 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
FrankAbagnale said:
ikarl said:
I once paid a pair of trainers forward, if that counts?

I had recently bought a pair of FrenchConnection trainers and after a reasonably long night drinking/clubbing. Whilst waiting for a taxi a homeless guy walked by, he didn't ask for any money or anything, he just smiled and nodded as he walked past. I assume now it was because we were a group of lads standing in the town centre at 4am making a bit of noise and he was probably scared.

Anyway, the trainers he was wearing had most of the sole on one of them missing, so you could see his sock. He was about 10yds away and I went over and asked him what size shoe he was, we were both the same size, so I took my shoes off and gave him them. Tbh, it could have went either way, but he genuinely looked grateful and thanked me as he walked away.

He may have sold them to get his next fix... or he may have chose to keep his feet warm and dry. Either way I'm sure he appreciated them.
Yeah, that'll do. Nice gesture, made someones day.

Reminds me a bit of the inbetweeners. Are you sure you didn't just take his p*ss stained shoes as the club had a policy of formal footwear and your trainers didn't meet the entrance requirements?
haha, nope, just went home in my socks. biggrin

red_slr

17,123 posts

188 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
I regularly get people coming into my place of business to by 1 unit of what we sell. Generally our minimum order is 30.
Generally I just let them take 1 FOC. It costs me more to stand there and take their details print out the invoice etc.