Community Chat

[Biftu]

My neighbor's son (he's in his 40s) knocked on my door to tell me he has cleaned up both our front lawns from pinecone like things that fall from his tree but branches hang over my property. I thanked him and an hour later he said his trash barrel was filled and can he use mine.  Sure I said.  He came back again and told me his father used to pay him 10 cents for every pincone he picked. I laughed and said he had a good thing going.  Back again to tell me my trash bin was heavy and to call him on trash day and he will move it to the front for me.  I felt like he wanted me to pay him.  These pinecones don't bother me in the winter and I did not ask him to do this, although I appreciate he did it.

He has done small outdoor chores for me in the past which I asked for his help and I paid him.  He took on this task on his own.  Being retired I try to only pay for projects I can't do on myself.  Would you have paid him?

[qvcaddition]

@Biftu 

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@Biftu wrote:

My neighbor's son (he's in his 40s) knocked on my door to tell me he has cleaned up both our front lawns from pinecone like things that fall from his tree but branches hang over my property. I thanked him and an hour later he said his trash barrel was filled and can he use mine.  Sure I said.  He came back again and told me his father used to pay him 10 cents for every pincone he picked. I laughed and said he had a good thing going.  Back again to tell me my trash bin was heavy and to call him on trash day and he will move it to the front for me.  I felt like he wanted me to pay him.  These pinecones don't bother me in the winter and I did not ask him to do this, although I appreciate he did it.

He has done small outdoor chores for me in the past which I asked for his help and I paid him.  He took on this task on his own.  Being retired I try to only pay for projects I can't do on myself.  Would you have paid him?

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Orginally, I would say no, but in thinking about it, I would offer 5.00 and say, I appreciate it and just want to show it, but In the future, I can't afford it.  If I have a bigger job, then I will let you know, but I have to put it in my budget when I can afford it. Thank you for thinking of me. Showing good faith and keeping the friendship.

[jackthebear]

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@Biftu wrote:

My neighbor's son (he's in his 40s) knocked on my door to tell me he has cleaned up both our front lawns from pinecone like things that fall from his tree but branches hang over my property. I thanked him and an hour later he said his trash barrel was filled and can he use mine.  Sure I said.  He came back again and told me his father used to pay him 10 cents for every pincone he picked. I laughed and said he had a good thing going.  Back again to tell me my trash bin was heavy and to call him on trash day and he will move it to the front for me.  I felt like he wanted me to pay him.  These pinecones don't bother me in the winter and I did not ask him to do this, although I appreciate he did it.

He has done small outdoor chores for me in the past which I asked for his help and I paid him.  He took on this task on his own.  Being retired I try to only pay for projects I can't do on myself.  Would you have paid him?

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no

[gidgetgh]

Yeah.  I would have given him something, $20 maybe. Again, my theory is you can never go wrong being kind, even if you didn't ask for his help.  But then I would tell him that that going forward, I would let him know if I needed any help.

[qvcaddition]

There you go, but being a senior myself, I know we are on tight budgets, so for me 20.00 for something I didn't ask for would be a lot on my budget.

[fthunt]

Lucky to have him around......$20

[Kachina624]

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@gidgetgh wrote:

Yeah.  I would have given him something, $20 maybe. Again, my theory is you can never go wrong being kind, even if you didn't ask for his help.  But then I would tell him that that going forward, I would let him know if I needed any help.

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@gidgetgh   I agree but $20 is excessive for a job a five year old could do.

[gidgetgh]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

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@gidgetgh wrote:

Yeah.  I would have given him something, $20 maybe. Again, my theory is you can never go wrong being kind, even if you didn't ask for his help.  But then I would tell him that that going forward, I would let him know if I needed any help.

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@gidgetgh   I agree but $20 is excessive for a job a five year old could do.

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@Kachina624 ya know?  I didn't do a deep dive into thinking this out.  Maybe he is desperate for money. Who knows his circumstances. We didn't  learn any of that from from @Biftu post.  I mean, if it took him 10 minutes, maybe I would have given $10 but I don't have all the info.

[Kachina624]

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@fthunt wrote:

Lucky to have him around......$20

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@fthunt    Lucky?  I think its kind of creepy and wouldn't want anyone in my yard picking things up without permission.  Maybe I've seen too many Fear Thy Neighbor episodes but I'm independent and don't want unsolicited help.

[santorini]

I think I would have said "that was so nice of you but that's certainly not necessary. I would never ask you to do that.  Please don't feel like you need to do anything more. I'm just fine."