My DC went to a friend’s birthday party recently. Earlier in the morning I bumped into the mum and she mentioned she was still running around trying to sort a few things before the party that afternoon. She said she still needed to pick up some balloons and asked if I could get some.
I said yes because going by the conversation it was inferred they were for the party we were about to go to. She told me the type she wanted, the big helium ones, so while my DC was busy with something else that morning I went to the shops and bought them. They came to about £20.
I then picked my DC up and we went straight to the party with the balloons.
When I arrived the mum told me to hide them because her DC wasn’t meant to see them. I was confused and she then said they were actually for her DC's birthday the next day, not the party we were currently at.
So I’d basically rushed around doing an errand that wasn’t even for the party I was heading to.
During the party I asked what time her husband was arriving and she said he was at home watching the football. That surprised me as well given it was their DC’s birthday party, and it also made me wonder why he couldn’t have just popped out to get the balloons himself rather than me rushing around beforehand.
Anyway I gave her the receipt and she said she’d transfer the money. I sent my bank details later that evening and she replied a couple of days later saying she’d missed the message and would send it over.
It’s now several days later and nothing has come through.
I don’t really want to chase £20 but equally it’s the principle. I feel like I did her a favour, rushed around to help her out which her husband could have easily done, and now I’m out of pocket.
AIBU to feel annoyed about it?