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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a welcome package for neighbour moving in tomorrow?

331 replies

Imfinallyhappy1 · 17/04/2019 17:32

We have a new neighbour moving in tomorrow, I’ve never met them but I used to live in the house until it was sold about 8 months ago.

I moved next door as it came up for rent when our landlord gave us notice.

I have a small hamper basket and was going to write the bin collection times, useful info like posties name, some tea, coffee, biscuits etc. Just some bits for moving in day.

Is there anything else that would be good? Or helpful?

OP posts:
CherryPlum · 17/04/2019 20:39

It's not miserable grouch at all. The world is made up.of different people with different feelings (and different taste in tea). Receiving a whole package of 'goodies' and 'tips' from a neighbour the moment I'd moved in to a new place would make me feel so uncomfortable.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 17/04/2019 20:40

I used to give a welcome card and flowers when someone moved in.....She looked at me and said "I don't do coffee mornings" .... neither do I … so I can see it would be full on, invasive , plain nosey and I'd think you thought I was too stupid to pack a box to move

Original poster
Imfinallyhappy1 · 17/04/2019 20:40

Also I hate to say it’s Tesco brand coffee! I have included a bottle of expensive Prosecco and some campo Viejo

OP posts:
Passthecake30 · 17/04/2019 20:45

I think it's too much. A cheap bunch of flowers or wine and a card would be enough for me, or I'd be overwhelmed.

Our elderly neighbors put a card in our door "welcome to the road.." (or something), which was really nice and helped break the ice.

Lowena · 17/04/2019 20:45

Sweet idea but I would find this weird, sorry.

A card would be more appropriate

CherryPlum · 17/04/2019 20:46

Tesco coffee oh my god your poor neighbour is going to have to find some way of disposing of that now too, on top of moving in to a new house and having stuff to sort out. Seriously I would find you a pain in the bum. Prosecco and wine too? They'll be wondering what your motives are and will have to spend the next few weeks avoiding you!

RogueV · 17/04/2019 20:48

Sounds a bit OTT to be honest Confused

Lowena · 17/04/2019 20:49

Agree that if you are putting tea in, it needs to be Yorkshire tea!

Tesco coffee would go to the foodbank. Sorry op.

reallybadidea · 17/04/2019 20:50

I made our neighbours a cake as a welcome gift. I wish I hadn't bothered, they turned out to be a pair of arseholes.

GruffaIo · 17/04/2019 20:54

It depends on the neighbourhood. We moved to our current house because we wanted to live in a community where people were friendly, neighbours had time for each other, etc. We got cards from a few when we moved in, and some home-baked biscuits in a tin from one neighbour. It was much appreciated.

My favourite decaf coffee is actually Sainsbury's own brand, so I would assume you'd identified something like you liked about the coffee, rather than that you were saving money, particularly because the whole hamper is so thoughtful.

I would have liked a list of who lives at which house number as people introduce themselves so quickly it's hard to remember it later.

CherylCheshire · 17/04/2019 20:56

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PlatypusLeague · 17/04/2019 21:04

I would love this and be very pleased to have a kind and friendly neighbour. I wouldn't mind if any of the hamper items weren't to my taste, I would think how refreshing and thoughtful it was that someone would make the effort to be so welcoming.

PlatypusLeague · 17/04/2019 21:05

I suppose you could wind some loo roll around a cylindrical bird feeder Grin

Roxyxoxo · 17/04/2019 21:06

I wouldn’t be freaked out by toilet paper, maybe if it had a creepy message on it or something- but we forgot loo roll when we moved and it would have been amazing! It’s thoughtful as well, it’s weird people find it odd but each to their own.

Redglitter · 17/04/2019 21:08

I think handing in a nice card & a bottle of prosecco/wine is a lovely idea. A hamper is totally OTT though.

And who would need or even know the name of their postman - or is that just me?

RollaCola84 · 17/04/2019 21:15

Redglitter I lived in my old house for almost ten years and I couldn't have picked the postman out of a line up never mind known his name. But I've already been told I'm a miserable grouch Grin

Unfinishedkitchen · 17/04/2019 21:17

This sounds lovely. Numbers of the best takeaways too. Nobody cooks on moving day.

LumpyPillow · 17/04/2019 21:18

OP you now really are coming off as a bit OTT rather than kind. I'd be pissed off with my estate agent to be honest that they'd simply told you what day i was moving in, too. You're not caring that you can simply add to lots of peoples moving day stress by placing yourself there, or making this quite grand gesture. you know you don't have any expectations of them, but they don't! I dont want to be even thinking 'oh fuck, is this a nosy neighbour? It is, isnt it, oh god now ive got to buy a thank you card' on moving in day! I want to move in and be excited about my new home, in peace.

These people are strangers, you know nothing of their tastes or lifestyle and you are going to cram a load of stuff at them that they may not want, like or need. All of the things you listed would go to food bank if it were me. What if its a stressed out recovering alcoholic moving house and you arrive laden with three types of booze?! 😂 Its a bit much.

Also, i am not the most organised of people but even I've never ever moved house and not had a box of essentials marked and ready for easy access on arrival.

Why not just a card and a wave, and not on moving day.

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 17/04/2019 21:20

Tea, cheapo coffee, fizzy shit but no milk or sugar ?

You either take a bottle of plonk and card , or flowers and a card or milk and a card …. this is really OTT. It makes the receiver beholden to you, feeding animals and mowing lawns etc when you're on holiday

Eliza9919 · 17/04/2019 21:21

Estate agents don't all give lists, I didn't get one. I think it's a nice idea, Inc the toilet roll.

Claw01 · 17/04/2019 21:23

Our postman is lovely, when he has a parcel which won’t fit through the letterbox and has to knock, he has a pocket of dog treats!

My dog loves him! I don’t know his name though. I’m not sure in which context I could use it, if I did!

Can you give us an example OP?!

supadupapupascupa · 17/04/2019 21:26

Our neighbour brought a card and a freshly baked fruit cake. It was so lovely! Personal but not over keen. Just dropped it off and went :-) still don't see much of her but we are always there for each other if need be and will call for help both ways (birds down chimneys, small kitchen fires, leaks, illness etc etc)

Original poster
Imfinallyhappy1 · 17/04/2019 21:39

I understand people not wanting this which is obviously fine and some loving it.

If it goes to the food bank that’s fine, if they like it that’s fine.

I think it’s all been made into a massive thing when actually it’s just a little something.

OP posts:
ILoveMaxiBondi · 17/04/2019 21:44

How much have you spent OP?

I’m baffled that people will go out and buy Prosecco (and expensive Prosecco at that!) coffee, biscuits etc for a complete stranger like this. Is it very exciting to have new neighbours where you live OP? Is there not much else going on in your village? Grin

Rubberduckies · 17/04/2019 21:45

I think it's a lovely idea! When we moved in we had a neighbour knock on the door to introduce herself, welcome us to the village, and tell us to move our car because we were parked in 'her' space on the public road.....I'd have preferred loo roll....

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