At the Grocery Store; If the person in front of you didn't have enough money....???

Question

Would YOU pay the difference to help them out? I would...if i was certain they were'nt scamming! lol

Answer 1

I have done this before. But, I DO see what they are buying. Beer, cigs etc are not something I am paying for.

Editted 2/19/07, last night, I met my mom at the Subway she runs. There was a man out front who was obviously homeless. The employees in the store told me that they see him searching the trash for food. I offered to "buy him dinner" and he accepted but he asked if he could just stay outside to not bother the other patrons. He also asked for the cheapest thing on the menu only, no drink etc. Needless to say, I loaded him up with chips, cookies, a pie & bottle of water. It was so cold outside last night, I wish I could have done more.

Answer 2

Your answer is kind of telling of most people. The same thing happened to my wife the other week when someone in front of her in line was short. They were paying with one of those food stamps cards but didn't have enough. My wife thought it over a long time. She gets pretty annoyed with some people that she sees on food stamps. Often she complains to me that she sees them buying more expensive items than we generally buy. This guy she told me seemed to be buying very inexpensive items, and seemed like a good person, but she waited too long thinking and the opportunity passed. Problem is its almost impossible to tell if someone is scamming you are not. I'm not sure I would have done any better than her, but when she told me about it, it reminding me of something I had heard in church. It tells us in the Bible that when we do something for a child, or a poor person that it is just as if we had done it for Jesus himself. You may have the best intentions and end up helping someone that did not deserve you effort but it doesn't matter. Gods knows what you did and he knows the spirit in which it was done.

Answer 3

It really depends on how short they are and what they're buying. I have given people who are short a dollar or so some money. I wouldn't do it for more than $2, if you are that short, then you weren't paying attention to what you were buying. Plus, if all the person is buying is junk food, no way. You'll need to put something back. You don't need that bottle of pop or that candy bar.

Answer 4

i ve actually done that before But at the Mall during christmas shopping a few years back. it was a lady from out of the country and she didnt have enough for her purchase but she had it in her currency (which of course the merchant wouldnt accept). it was only like 4 dollars and some change so i dished it out without giving it a second thought.
i mean come on, i m at a mall, shopping, i obviously have some money to spend on myself and family, why not do a good deed and help someone out every once in a while. besides i probably would've spent those four bucks on a burger and fries or something insignificant like that.
the lady was So thankful to me, she insisted in giving it to me in her currency but i refused and after much insisting she accepted my courtesy. she hugged me and thanked me a few more times and off we both went on our Merry ways.
Whether or not she was an honest person, it really doesnt matter, what i did still stands and i did it in good intentions, so kudos to me all the way :)

Answer 5

i would have to agree with you. i have been in a jam where i haven't had enough money and have had people behind me help me out. and not only that you don't know really if they are having money problems and you might make their day by helping them out. so you never know. and when you come up short you would maybe want someone to help you right? but yea i agree with you. Even though they might scam you you at least did a good deed. and at least you will feel better that you know you did something good.

Answer 6

Sure, if I could afford it. Now, if they got up there with $150 worth of groceries and only had $20, that I wouldn't do. And I'd probably help them search their purse/wallet for more money before I gave them any of my money.

Answer 7

I'm gonna have to say that I would, only if it's something that is needed, not a bunch of junk food or beer or anything like that. I mean, if it were like milk, bread, meat, stuff you actually need to survive, then definately. Because one of these days I might be short and need someone to do the same for me. Karma....always think KARMA

Answer 8

Having worked at a grocery store years ago, most people who are in that situation are unfairly b*tchy to people just trying to be nice and often blow up the situation and make it waaaay more dramatic than it needs to be. I probably wouldn't help them out if it was more than a few bucks.

Answer 9

Of course I would. If I had enough money, I'd pay for their whole bill. I love helping out the needy, ecspeicially homeless people.

Answer 10

It would depend on the amount needed. Less than $5 I might go for, more I would have to think about or maybe see what they were buying!