Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How much would "just buy me a drink" mean to you when you ask someone how much you owe them?

166 replies

ColdCottage · 05/09/2022 16:59

I had a very lovely tradesman in today to look at my broken appliance. He couldn't fix it - well he could but it wouldn't be worth it due to the cost.

When I asked him what I owed him he said "just buy me a drink" I had no idea how much this should be.

He had been there 20 minutes I would guess, maybe 1/2h.

I was a bit surprised and had no idea how much this should be. I guessed 2 beers would be £10 so gave him that.

Wondered if I might have been a be short as he was a very lovely man and suggested some other brands for me to get the best value replacement.

So I thought I'd canvas opinions here so I'm more prepared for next time.

Thanks

OP posts:
YesitsBess · 05/09/2022 23:31

<lobs a Shetland in your general direction>

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 23:37

See Sausage? It’s bung not buy 😂

Thank you, I have been educated!! Grin

So, if somebody said they hoped to score a pony, would that be £20, £25, £45 (combined) or would you multiply them and naturally expect a monkey for your trouble, Sir? Would that still be the going rate if you'd fitted a carpet and done a really grand job?

Kite22 · 05/09/2022 23:42

I'd have given him £20.
The 20mins he spent at your house would probably have meant at least an hour of his time with driving there etc, plus his specialist knowledge.
I think £20 for that would be fairer.

Can't believe the number of people on here who are so literal.
The phrase "buy me a drink" meaning "just bung me some cash, whatever you think" is as old as the hills.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 05/09/2022 23:46

I've never heard in terms of actually giving money before. Our carpet fitters did an extra job and their boss (on the phone when I asked if they'd be able to do it and how much it cost) said 'oh they'll do that for you up for a few beers'. So I gave them a box of beers, did a make a big mistake here? They seemed happy with the beer!

N4mechanged · 05/09/2022 23:46

Never heard this except in the context of friends. I wouldn't have a clue if a tradesman said this to me.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 06/09/2022 06:30

The phrase "buy me a drink" meaning "just bung me some cash, whatever you think" is as old as the hills.

Semi-randomly, that reminds me of when I was a child and I first heard the phrase 'giving somebody a Christmas box' on the telly (Eastenders, I think). I gathered that it was a really special, kind thing to do for a loved one, so I carefully sought out some old boxes being given away from the supermarket and didn't tell my parents why I wanted them, saving them to put my family's presents in ready for the day. I was so chuffed to be giving them their special exciting 'Christmas boxes' and had no idea at that age that it just meant giving somebody a gift of some money!

Adversity · 06/09/2022 07:54

@BadNomad brilliant! My mind is literal as well so would have probably offered a couple of DH beers.

moofolk · 06/09/2022 08:14

VenusClapTrap · 05/09/2022 17:55

someone once said this to me so I literally gave him a couple of beers out of the fridge 😳

I did this too! It was someone I know (but not well), and I was really touched that he was doing me a favour for no money.

I feel bad now.

Mywatchis · 06/09/2022 09:59

SE here, definitely give them £20 cash there and then if they say just buy me a drink. I think it's hilarious that anyone would think they're being chatted up! 🤣🤣

DustinsHat · 06/09/2022 10:49

TheRookie · 05/09/2022 23:19

This is not a thing surely?!

Do people actually pay tradesmen on the spot? Do they not just send an invoice?

Yes insist on an invoice OP and enjoy paying the £70 call out charge instead of accepting the offer of buying a drink for the nice man.

EtiquetteQuestion · 06/09/2022 11:40

In my mid-40s, grew up on London/Essex border and now live elsewhere in the SE, but I don't think I've heard of this either.

Sure if the tradesperson is also a friend or acquaintance then the phrase "buy me a drink" makes sense.

But a normal trades person saying it... there's so much scope for confusion as demonstrated by this thread.

And even if the person does understand it to mean £20... It's very common for people to never use cash these days, so how does the transaction work then?

Do they ask the trades person for their details to transfer the money? But that won't work if the idea is to keep the job off the books.

cherrysthename · 06/09/2022 14:16

I think most of the confusion is because it seems the wrong way round? As the tradesman doesn't know the OP, this is the exchange I would've expected:
TM: oh, don't worry about it/I'll let you off
OP, thank you, here, get yourself a drink, then (while handing over some cash as a gesture)
Like, it's more OP's place to tell him to 'get himself a drink' since she's the one thanking him for his favour. It's odd coming from the tradesman unless he said something like, 'let's call it a tenner for my petrol'.

YesitsBess · 06/09/2022 17:25

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 23:37

See Sausage? It’s bung not buy 😂

Thank you, I have been educated!! Grin

So, if somebody said they hoped to score a pony, would that be £20, £25, £45 (combined) or would you multiply them and naturally expect a monkey for your trouble, Sir? Would that still be the going rate if you'd fitted a carpet and done a really grand job?

If you want monkeys that’s a whole other menagerie. I’ll have to check Debretts.

Original poster
ColdCottage · 07/09/2022 22:15

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 06/09/2022 06:30

The phrase "buy me a drink" meaning "just bung me some cash, whatever you think" is as old as the hills.

Semi-randomly, that reminds me of when I was a child and I first heard the phrase 'giving somebody a Christmas box' on the telly (Eastenders, I think). I gathered that it was a really special, kind thing to do for a loved one, so I carefully sought out some old boxes being given away from the supermarket and didn't tell my parents why I wanted them, saving them to put my family's presents in ready for the day. I was so chuffed to be giving them their special exciting 'Christmas boxes' and had no idea at that age that it just meant giving somebody a gift of some money!

Not heard of a Christmas box meaning money.

OP posts:
Rutland2022 · 08/09/2022 00:30

ColdCottage · 07/09/2022 22:15

Not heard of a Christmas box meaning money.

Show quote history

Really? I wonder if that’s regional or age dependent. I grew up in the South West and then South East and back then all the window cleaners, postmen, milkmen, binmen etc got a “Christmas Box” which was always cash. I’m a late 70’s child so this was the 80’s and 90’s. I don’t think it’s done much now.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 08/09/2022 09:16

Looking into it further, it appears that 'Christmas box = money' is quite an old-fashioned thing, and quite likely the origin of the phrase 'Boxing Day'.

Then again, if you just search for 'Christmas box', the vast majority of results do indeed come up for pretty boxes in which to put gifts, so who knows?!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page