[Caelestis]

Wow. July 30 already--where did the month go? I've only got one day left and I've still got over a week's worth of topic ideas on my list! And who's got August?

Today's question came up after I spent three days this week working on a computer for a friend. She has a severely autistic adult daughter who spends much of her time on her laptop computer. She goes online and gets on Google looking for videos of songs she knows. The laptop picked up several viruses and was unusable. I worked on the thing, couldn't get rid of the viruses and ended up reinstalling Windows. That created its own set of new problems which took another whole day to fix. I finally had to get DH to help because those problems were beyond me. The laptop is finally back in the hands of the daughter who is much happier (when she's upset she tends toward physical violence--a happy Caiti is a safe Caiti to be around...). My friend says she owes me big time and keeps trying to come up with some way to pay me back. But I didn't work on the computer to "get anything"--I did it because I'm her friend and she needed help. I talked her out of most of her suggestions, but she's decided that DH and I need a homemade cheesecake, and won't take no for an answer.

So, the question of the day is--if someone does a favor for you, how do you repay them? (Keep it clean, people! )

[Lauria]

Er, me, next. Are you sure it's august!?

[MmeMagpie]

Usually, I wait until I can repay in kind. That karma thing, you know Sometimes jewelry works, too.

[Lauria]

Or mini baskets.

[Cindy]

It depends on the person and the favor. I usually try to do something unexpected.

[TheCreativeJeweler]

Well, for me, that person would definitely be included in my Christmas list.
I'll keep that person and that moment in my mind...That's why someone do me a favor, it's like a continuous campaign for the 'person of the year'. I honestly can't get over it.

[DawninCal]

In my circle, we have a sort of unspoken agreement. If one of them does a favor for another, we figure the opportunity to return the favor will come up someday down the road. Same with things like going out to lunch. If I pay for both of us, the other friend will pay next time. We don't keep track of whether or not one favor is bigger than the other or if lunch cost a little more or less the next time. We figure it all evens out in the end.

Of course, you can't ever go wrong with a batch of home made chocolate chip cookies!



Dawn

[beadyeyes]

I will usually wait for an opportunity to repay in kind. If it was a favor that provided something of monetary value, like a service provided as a favor, I will present a gift of gratitude, maybe a lunch or dinner out, theater tickets, a piece of jewelry, etc.

[Bonlou10]

We usually try to do something nice for someone who goes out of the way for us. Dinner, a bottle of wine, or a little something you see that would be perfect for that person. Keeps the world a nicer place don't you think, to pay back and pay forward?

[BeadSire]

It all depends on the person and the situation - but usually what goes around comes around and with my circle of friends we find that one way or the other it evens itself out. Of course a bunch of flowers until that happens can brighten up the day or just simply the pleasure of knowing you have helped someone is reward enough.

My friend recently hurt herself and she's an amazing person always putting herself out there for everyone - it was great to see how many including myself picked her up and took her shopping or to her appointments or little chores to help her through.

[Michele C]

Since we own an interior plantscaping company, (fancy word for providing plants and flowers for businesses such as hotels, office buildings, hospitals, etc.), I usually give a plant, flowers, or jewelry.

[♥ Zili ♥]

I do the same as Dawn does, sometimes if they've helped me out and I have no money to repay them with even down the road, I make them some free jewelry, they typically have ideas in mind but can't commission me so I'll do it for free if I should return a favor.

[Lauria]

I usually don't have any money, so I give a mini-basket. I have the supplies on hand, or can make them from nature, and people go crazy over them. Although I can't see why. Maybe because I can make them, they don't seem like that great a return.

If it's something like lunch, and I know the person would expect a return, I just don't go. My good friend know I don't have the money for that and we'll do something like a picnic, or just hanging out together.

[FloridaCoqui]

That is harder to answer than I thought. If I do something for someone (now a day anyway) I will tell them that I don't want anything personally, but when they see someone with a need to help them, to pass it forward (so to speak). Most of my friends know this already and accept that. Now if someone does something for me, I kinda know who expects to get something back and who did it out of love and treat it accordingly. I am constantly being surprised at the generosity of people who do not really know me and just do things cause they are nice. It is a nice world.