Yesterday after a snowfall I noticed my neighbor snow blowing his drive and then a little bit later he was doing mine. I am friendly with him and his wife but we are not 'friends' per se. I am a single mother of three and we do not have a snow blower. The weekend before when it snowed apx 8" my son, daughter and I all got out and shoveled half of my drive - enough so that I could get in and out of my garage. I am very thankful that he came over and snow blowed my drive as I hate shoveling and we dont have a snow blower. I also am the only single person on my street and I think the only one w/out a snowblower... my question is what should I do to show my appreciation. I was thinking of sending over a card with $10 in it to say thanks and the money as a way of helping with the cost of gas as I know he didnt do it as a way to earn money. Is that appropriate?
2007-12-29 00:56:16 · 12 answers · asked by celeste_f31 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Thanks for all the responses.. this really helps.. I wasn't quite sure about sending money which is why I posted. I guess I will get to baking some cookies today because I definitely need to say thank you... they are good neighbors.
2007-12-29 03:09:05 · update #1
I would not send money at all. Do something that requires you to go to the same effort that he went through, such as baking them some cookies or homemade bread.
2007-12-29 00:59:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Oh what a lovely neighbour you have! I had terrible neighbours until recently... one side demolished their house and the others got evicted. Much better lol..
I think that is a lovely thought sending the $10 over, some people wouldn't even bother to say thanks (the world is sad sometimes).
However I agree with the other respondants - baking cookies or a cake is a wonderful thank-you gift because it takes time, effort and love to bake them, much like it took your neighbour that same loving energy to snowblow your drive. And as someone pointed out, it can be shared with the whole family!
Plus, it is a little more personal to give something you've made rather than money - as someone pointed out, he wasn't doing a chore :) You say that you're not exactly 'friends' as such.. who knows, maybe this could be the start :)
Happy Holidays!
2007-12-30 06:25:35 · answer #2 · answered by deedee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start by speaking to your neighbours both to say how much you thought that this was very kind. Thank them. Then also when you bake cookies, take over a batch to them, just to show you are appreciative. Money could actually insult the man. If they should offer to do it again, ask if you may contribute to his costs.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Lisa
2007-12-29 10:04:04 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know riversconfluence means well, but do NOT reimburse this man for the gas. That would be insulting.
The cookies are the right answer. I'd say maybe a decorative paperplate with twenty or so chocolate chip cookies is the standard "Thanks for doing that for a poor helpless woman" gift. Remember, what he did was not time-consuming or difficult--compare it to paying toll for the next couple of cars on an expressway. Cookies are sufficient.
2007-12-29 10:37:39 · answer #4 · answered by vintner 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't make the gift monetary or of commercial value as it will seem too much like 'paying back' rather than saying thank you and they will feel awkward accepting money or bought gifts.
Baking cookies or a cake for them is a good and warm way to show thanks or appreciation. Try not to alienate his wife from your thanks (the cake should be for both of them) because you don't want her to start to feel jealous or left out or worse still thinking the woman next door is being too friendly with her man!
You have good neighbours, just one of the many things in life to be thankful for.
2007-12-29 09:10:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
My dad cleaned the neighbors driveway after doing ours. He did it because the man is 82 and has had heart problems. My dad did it out of kindness not because he wanted to be paid. He came over to thank him later on.
Just say thank you very much. Good neighbors are hard to find.
My other neighbor wouldn't do it unless you paid him.
2007-12-29 14:22:13 · answer #6 · answered by marie9 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At least your neighbor is thoughtful.
How about a batch of cookies or a cake?
Nothing says thank you like baked goods.
2007-12-29 10:51:44 · answer #7 · answered by Ella 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The gas money would be nice, as long as you say that it is intended to offset the cost of the gas. Something homemade like cookies would be great, too, both sent with a sincere thank you note.
2007-12-29 09:59:58 · answer #8 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with the other fellow, and wouldn't send money. He has done it as an act of kindness not a chore, so you should return it with an act of kindness. Maybe bob over with a bottle of wine to say thank you? Or cake? Or biscuits? Just a token of your appreciation. But the money thing would deeply offend me so I would steer clear of that.
2007-12-29 09:01:55 · answer #9 · answered by Just Emily 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋
i don't think i send money...it might make him feel bad...baking something special for him is a nice gesture...which is the same thing he did for you by snowblowing your driveway...tell him how much you appreciated it upon your personal delivery of the cookies .. .... wow i wish i had a neighbor like that...sounds like you picked a great town to live in ..best of luck to you and yours and happy new year ...
2007-12-29 22:59:19 · answer #10 · answered by michele d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋