Neighbour 'borrowing' food

[JC03745]

If you borrow food from neighbours (eggs, potatoes etc) do you return the next day to replace it? A couple in their 30's knock every month or so asking for something they'd run out of. They both work full time in good jobs, her mother lives further up our street and there are shops a short drive away.

I've never had anyone ask for food, so unsure if I'm supposed to say 'can you replace that pack of onions' or is it implied its just given away? (I was born abroad so unsure if there is an etiquette I've missed?)

@Scott135 Strangely, after I posted this over 3mths ago- they haven't ask for anything at all, so certainly not a case of them testing to waters to ask for bigger things.

@Izzynohopanda "iI’d say the etiquette is to replace it with a ‘old for new’ policy. Ie. If they borrow two onions, they give you a new pack of three onions. If they borrow a couple of eggs, they replace it with a box of six"

Now, that's just weird!

If I have something spare I would still give it, I think, but I would say at the time that I need the equivalent back by Friday please as I need it for something. That way they know it's definitely expected to be returned.

If a neighbour knocked and asked for an egg or an onion-or as one did last night, a few squirts of washing up liquid itwouldn't cross my mind to expect it back! A bottle of gin, yes-but an egg???

We live semi rurally so fairly normal here but stuff is replaced or it balances out. Anyone taking the p gets short shrift but mostly we all help each other out.

Growing up (very poor) we had neighbours who would knock most days. One Sunday they asked for some carrots, a few potatoes, some gravy granules, some peas. My mum went to the back door (which faced theirs) and shouted did they want the bloody meat joint too and some plates as well. Another time it was can they borrow some teabags, then some sugar. When they knocked for milk my dad answered the door with the kettle in his hand and asked if they wanted the hot water too. They were awful.