Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Flip

Original poster

Gift for neighbour who kept an eye on our house

21 replies

BlackStarCat · 13/07/2023 19:33

Just that really.
Anyone got any ideas?? I'm thinking along the lines of a £50 M&S voucher.
I know she would happily do it for nothing but would much rather acknowledge (she is dream neighbour).
She has fed our cat twice a day and kept the garden watered, although it has rained a lot this week so prob wasn't a massive job. Lives literally across the road so no travel.
Am I on the right tracks or should I diversify/up my budget??

OP posts:

Meeting · 13/07/2023 19:35

Sounds lovely

Saunaandsteam · 13/07/2023 19:35

I would say that sounds like a lot. Maybe a £20 m and s voucher and a bunch of flowers/nice plant?

Badbudgeter · 13/07/2023 19:35

I think the amount is right but awkward giving cash/ voucher. I’d probably put together a mini hamper with a bottle of favourite booze and either sweet treats or cheese/ chutney and crackers depending on what they like.

icelollycraving · 13/07/2023 19:37

Thst seems a lot, maybe a good bottle of wine and flowers or a voucher. Cat feeder would host you £10 minimum a day so perhaps £50 not ott.
I’d be really surprised if you gave me that much!

Davros · 13/07/2023 22:40

Is it likely to happen regularly? I would buy goods - flowers or nice foodstuffs from where you've been - not vouchers

FiveShelties · 14/07/2023 11:58

How long has she been feeding cat etc?

mondaytosunday · 14/07/2023 12:02

How long for, a weekend, week or two weeks? If two weeks then yes a £50 voucher. One week flowers and decent wine. Weekend bottle of decent wine.

euff · 14/07/2023 12:06

That sounds lovely and quite generous. I used to keep an eye on a neighbours house and never wanted or expected anything. They were too generous (£100 cash in a card one time) and it made me feel a bit awkward and guilty!

TammyJones · 14/07/2023 12:37

I regularly keep an eye on the neighbour's houses when they are away.
I mostly get a bottle of wine.
This week we gave our neighbour a box of John smiths - he was very happy.

Chewbecca · 14/07/2023 12:41

I like to bring a gift from the trip - wine / spirit / local food as a thank you.

Dreamgirls · 16/07/2023 01:01

Just to hijack this thread for related opinions, would you get your neighbour a gift if you had just left a key with them in case of emergency while you were away for a week or two (but aside from genuine emergencies, nothing was required from them, and they weren't expected to enter your home)?

Davros · 16/07/2023 10:19

No I wouldn't

BurbageBrook · 16/07/2023 14:31

Will you be able to return the favour for them sometime? If so, I would just do a small token gift brought back from your holiday. If not I agree a hamper of nice things sounds better than a voucher.

MyCatHasStaff · 16/07/2023 14:48

Dreamgirls · 16/07/2023 01:01

We do this for neighbours, push their post through etc, but would only go in if it was an emergency. We don't expect anything but they will often bring us a box of nice biscuits after a trip and at Christmas, which is lovely.

Changes17 · 16/07/2023 14:53

We feed our neighbours cats and they feed ours. We tend to bring back something nice to eat/drink and they do the same. But may be different if purely a one-way thing? DD is feeding other neighbours’ cats for 10 days and being paid a similar amount as you mentioned.

Changes17 · 16/07/2023 14:54

We regularly have keys for neighbours and vv but nothing expected. I expect if they headed off a disaster of some kind we’d get them a lovely present though.

cobden28 · 16/07/2023 14:56

Abig bunch of flowers via Interflora would be a nice gesture, or if the neighbour is a keen gardener a plant or something for her garden, perhaps?

Sprig1 · 16/07/2023 14:56

That sounds too much. How about a food/drink gift from wherever you went on holiday?

springtome · 16/07/2023 16:48

We have neighbours who regularly look after our cats. It's usually for a weekend so often twice on Saturday and Sunday morning only. Then one week in the summer and maybe 3 nights at Christmas time.

They keep saying to not get them anything and have tried to keep it low key. We buy them alcohol as they are both drinkers - not the same drink unfortunately! After the summer one we usually buy them both the bottle of spirits they like each and Christmas the same and throughout the year we we do the odd bottle of wine or chocolates but not every time so they are not made to feel uncomfortable.

NotanotherboxofFrogs · 17/07/2023 00:13

Currently looking after my neighbours cat and house, one of them stayed in my home due to my dodgy next door neighbour and neither of us get each other anything. We both look out for each other and are constantly in and out of each other places.

If we are both away usually together, another trusted friend comes in and feeds cats and checks the houses are okay.. He doesn't drink but we both usually get him chocolates for it. It's usually only about yearly we are both away. We also look after his plants, water his garden, walk the dog, feed his cat and keep an eye on his house when he is away. We treat each pet the same as if it's our own and give them extra attention.

Birdeegirl · 17/07/2023 20:52

That sort of neighbour is a rarity! I'd give her a £100 amazon gift card so she can get whatever she likes. You can't really get a lot from M&S with fifty quid. I don't think 50 is enough.. imagine how much cat kennels cost? I have a friend that looks after cats specifically and I'm pretty sure she charges 150 plus for 3 days.
Pets are expensive!

Flip