When you've been skint, what's the Kindest thing someone has done?

[CharlieUniformNovemberTango]

I've posted on the thread about a the cruellest things people have said and done when you've been skint but I thought a reverse thread would be a lovely idea.

Let's restore our faith in human nature :o



Also, feel free to post if you've done something kind to help a friend in need. It might give someone some inspiration :)

[colditz]

Oh, and a regular poster, I met her for the first time when she brought her baby daughters clothes round to my house whilst I was pregnant with ds2, impoverished and catatonic with depression. I have never forgotten that kindness, and also the kindness of her pretending I was a fully functional person when it must have been really obvious that I wasn't!

[colditz]

Oh the kindnesses that have been done for me, they blow my mind. A mner sent me some lovely leather boots, because I had no boots and my feet were getting cold and wet. Another time, it was Christmas, the very first Christmas mumsnet appeal, I was so poor and exp had spent the rent money in the bandit machines, and a load of anon MNers basically made Christmas happen. I got sent presents for me and for the children, a couple of gift cards, one for tesco and one for m and s, each with fifty quid on (this fed us) and you know, if it hadn't been for that massive kindness, I may not have physically survived that Christmas. I was quite upbeat about it at the time, but I was actually teetering very very close to the edge of reason and the sheer goodwill of strangers pushed me back away from the brink.

[RockinaroundtheTippletree]

someone once popped an envelope with some money through my mums door so she could buy a badly needed winter coat and couldn't afford one when I was very small because bastard father fucked off and refused to pay maintenance

[BackforGood]

Years ago, when teaching a class where I knew money was tight for quite a few of the families, we were offered the chance to go to the theatre, at the last minute, for much reduced cost, but it was just before Christmas and we'd already asked for money that term for another visit. I put the letter out, apologising for the short notice but explaining we'd been offered it as a last minute thing, and saying the cost is £x, but we will do our best to find what we can from elsewhere, but it would be helpful if people could just send a £1 or £2 to help towards it, and somehow we'd make sure the children all went. Two parents (it was a special school, so there were only 12 children in the class so this made a massive difference) sent in not only the full amount for their child, but also the full amount over again, "to make sure all the children can go". It was 16 years ago, but still brings tears to my eyes thinking about their kindness, just before Christmas, when money is tight for everyone.

[iwantanafternoonnap]

I have had lots of nice things done for me from friends coming and cooking dinner and getting all the things I could not afford. Someone at work sharing their lunch with me because I was losing weight so fast due to not having any money for lunch.

Latest one though is my friends taking me out on my 40th and my present being a trip to Disneyland Paris for me and my DS

I am due some compensation soon and the first thing I am going to do is treat my friends for dinner.

[racingheart]

I once had a boss who overheard me mention to another girl at work that my feet were wet from walking in the rain. He asked why and I said there were holes in the soles of my shoes. He took my hand and pulled me out of the place we worked and into a nearby shoe shop where he bought me some new shoes.

He was lovely to everyone who ever came into contact with him. I went back to visit him the other day because I had such fond memories of him. He's old now and had no memory of me at all, which was sad (but funny too) as he had made such a huge impression on me. He was unbelievably kind and good.

[2kidsintow]

Years ago, my best friend was a single parent and was finding things hard. We took her shopping and filled a trolley with everything that she needed. It took some convincing for her to let us do it for her, but we were adamant.

She was determined to pay us back, but was never in the position to, financially. In the end, when she moved away she left us her DDs cot to settle the debt/say thankyou and her DDs cot became my DDs cot.

[juicychops]

my best friend surprised me by set up a standing order into my bank account for £30 each month a few winters ago as i was struggling to pay the electric for the heating

[buildingmycorestrength]

Wonderful thread. so moving.

[Bakingnovice]

Last year one of ds's best friends at school told him that he would be bringing in a packed lunch on the day of the school Xmas dinner as his mum 'had no pennies to pay for it'. I was so heartbroken. I popped into the office to pay anonymously for this child but the office lady must have heard the same thing as she said the school would meet the cost and would notify the mother. There are lots of kind people out there.

[mammyof5]

when i had my first dd a lady kindly gave me her dd old clothes i know it doesnt seem much but at the time it was a huge blessing.

i do all the normal things children s charity's ever month, food for food banks, shops appeals for presents for children in need. give all my dc clothes away to those who need then or charity shops.

one year my dc decided they would like to carol sing. they went out and where given a lot of money. i asked them what they wanted to do with it they said thet they had enough stuff and would give it to someone who needed it. out in town on xmas eve and we saw a lady begging (very rare here to see) so we gave her all the money we all felt it was fate that she had it for mas

its a shame not more people were like the ones here i think the world would be a better place. it has brought a tear to my eye reading this

[Bakingnovice]

This thread is so moving. Am actually crying.

[eslteacher]

When I was a student, I had reached the end of my overdraft way before the end of term, and was really worried about how I would get through the last couple of weeks. I printed out a mini-statement and saw that a deposit of £400 had just been made into my account. I had no idea what this was, and went into the bank to ask about it - the woman on the desk looked some stuff up on the computer and said the code showed that it had been made from the bank's HQ. She very quietly suggested that we do nothing and that there was very little chance it would be chased up - and lo, it never was! Thus I survived the end of term £400 richer.

[NeverKnowinglyUnderstood]

When we were leaving amsterdam after a 6 week trip round europe DB and I opened our joint purse and gave a guy on the street all the money we had left (about £70) we very quietly slipped it in his hat next to his dog.. we were the other end of the road and he stood up and shouted thanks and jumped around.

DB and I didn;t stop but we both really smiled.

Now I have a few friends who are stoney broke and I just make sure that when we go round I take stuff that could not be justified on their budget like junk food crisps and choccie biscuits etc.

I was very close to drop a few gift vouchers through the door saying that they had won the raffle at school but realised that could cause problems.

[queenebay]

I found a bag of money £300 when i was 15 and handed it in to the police station. As i sat there telling them all about it an older lady came in hysterical saying she had lost her bag containing her husband wages.
I left the police to it and later that night she came round to my house to congratulate my parents on having a honest child. She forever brought me wee gifts and knitted me jumpers!!

[OddBoots]

These things are so lovely. I think MN need to put a link to this thread (or a page made quoting some of these) and link it with a heart or a smile type logo next to the moon under 'advanced search'.

[Journey]

FIL saying he would pay my monthly credit card bill (which was fabulous) but then to phone back the next day to tell us he didn't think he was doing enough and told us he would clear all our debts! He never once made us feel small or embarrassed about our debts either. Truly amazing. I think his kindness will always have a huge influence on me.

[regnamechange]

I had some very generous mums netters one year on a secret Santa. The gifts went to my children as we couldn't really afford a pressy for Xmas day. That was very nice.
Friends helping out when we've been in extremely tight financial situations. I've been lucky with generous friendly family and friends when I've least expected it.

[regnamechange]

BikeRunSki that's lovely

[BikeRunSki]

DH was put on short hours when DD was 4 weeks old, and I was still recovering from a emcs. A lady I didn't know very well came round one day when DH was at work and brought me lunch - she'd been in touch with a v good friend of mine to see what I'd like. Stayed, had a chat and a cuddle with new baby, cleaned the kitchen and left nothing but choc brownies. A week later she drove me, DS (3) and DD out to soft play with her DS (same age as mine). She did something for me every Thursday until I was back on my feet - which also coincided with DH getting a new job. She's now expecting her second DC and will have a CS. I can't wait to repay the favour!

[waitingtobeamummy]

I posted this on another one a while ago.
We heard through friends an aquatence's baby was ok hospital desperately ill. No family members would help them get there to visit and they lived pretty much hand to mouth.
We put .£50 in a card saying to help get to your little boy and posted it through theit door.
The warm feeling it gave us was amazing, if only we had enough money to to it regularly for people. X

[onemoreforgoodmeasure]

I'm in debt and my OH just replaced my laptop. My DB nearly died Wednesday and I'm booking my DM a ticket so she can visit with him. It all goes round.

[WantAnOrange]

It wasn't me, and it's such a little thing really but one thing that comes to mind is when DH (DP at the time) and I were in KFC when we were about 18. A homeless guy came in and rifled through all the rubbish left on the tables looking for leftover food. The other costumers either ignored him or looked disgusted. The man didn't find any food so he went back outside and sat down. DH saved his chips and gave them to him on the way out, with some money to get a coffee to go with it. This man's face lit up like christmas, it was sad and heart warming all at once.