About not having enough money to pat for shopping?

[PurplePidjin]

Person in front of me didn't have enough for all the things they needed - caused a long delay as the manager had to come to authorise the cancellations.

The shortfall was over £6. I just can't spare that much, or if i did then I'd struggle to cut back elsewhere although it would be possible. I feel awful for not helping - if it were a pound or two I'd have just helped out.

AIBU?

Fwiw if they'd been buying bread/milk/eggs type basics I'd have just paid and sorted my own finances later. It wasn't for essentials as such.

*pay for shopping. Gah!

Not UR at all! They just have to put stuff back and im sure didnt expect you to help! J know i wouldnt and i e been in that situation .

Not at all unreasonable, their shopping is not your problem

Of course YWNBU and I'm sure they didn't expect you to pay for their shopping. I'd happily give and have given someone a pound or two if they're stuck but £6 is a bit much. I'd only give £6 if I was feeling particularly flush and if I thought the person was in real need.

I think that the fact that you are on here feeling awful is proof that you wasn't being unreasonable. You obviously care. But you used your senses that told you that you didn't need to this time. Next time it might be some one who desperately needs essentials, or calpol for example. And I'm sure you would do the right thing when needed ,

This happened to me before. A woman with 4 kids running all over she paid most in coupons and 2 cards and was £3 short. I paid it for her cause she looked like she was gonna have a meltdown. If I'm on a strict budget I add up a I go around

And no yanbu btw!

Yes YWBVVVU

YANBU.

I went all the way through once and went for my purse and it wasn't there, it was at home on the table.
I was mortified but luckily there was a parent who paid for my shopping to get the extra air miles.
I took the cash back to her later at pick up. I hate to think how long others would have had to wait, I was mortified enough as it was.

That once happened to me too! and there was a woman I vaguely knew who paid for me and I posted her a cheque

I've been in the situation of having to put something back but tbh unless it was a matter of a few pence I'd be too embarrassed to accept money from someone else in the queue.

Don't feel bad. £6 is more than most could afford to just give away without a second thought. And as you said, it wasn't for essentials, so it's not as if he was left going hungry.

Weird, just re-read and you didn't mention gender, so not sure where I got 'he' from

£3 or under I'd just do, no question. We've all been there having to choose between eggs and tuna in the weely shop.

Cheers worra knew you'd see sense

My dh went to the shop at the weekend to pick up some essentials, and at the checkout realised he'd forgotten to take his wallet with him. He had a tenner in his pocket so paid for some stuff and out the rest back. He'd have been mortified if someone had offered to pay the remainder, we can easily afford to pay for our shopping.

I would only offer if it was a couple of pounds of less and if it serms genuine need rather than plonker someone who's forgotten their wallet... Although I appreciate that's hard to judge.

I did once pay someone's bus fare as she managed to get on the bus without cash, she offered to take me to cash point with her once we were in town centre to repay me but I declined, she was very grateful although also fairly embarrassed.

YANBU, paying for someone's shopping is a nice gesture, in a pay it forward way but not expected at all.

Years ago I was very embarrassed when a nice elderly lady gave dc £1 for sweets because she heard me say I didn't have any money when they pestered me for some. I had cash but left purse at home. I didn't have heart to say no she was very kind and smily at dc.

Yanbu . People don't expect it.

Oh I think smiley not smily ....