Received unmarked cash envelope for exact amount for our roof repair

[Vernatts123]

We are a young couple with a 1 year old on a relatively good income but little savings due to maternity leave and buying our first house the other year which needed repairs.

Recently our roof needed fixing and we had several other issues with the house come up at once. A few friends and family asked how much it was going to cost for the roof repair (we thought because they needed similar work on theirs or general interest).

Today we received an anonymous envelope with exact amount in cash for the roof repair. No sign who it is from but doesn’t have a stamp so must have been in driving distance.

My thoughts are it is our neighbours who we are friends with through Church and have been guides through difficult times recently.

My personal view is that we can afford the roof (I paid them today) and this money is an extra blessing that we should keep to give out to others as needed. Alternatively we put it in savings for our daughters future.

What would you do?

TLDR; someone unknown put a cash envelope through our door for the exact amount our roof repair has costed. Unsure on what to do next.

I would do what's been done here orange.

And if I was your friend j would weep in thanks for you on my doorstrp.because if this happened to us right now you might just save my life.

This!

It doesn't sit right at all with me to give the money away to someone else. If the people who gifted the money to you wanted to give the money to charity they would have done so. They wanted to give to you so the gracious thing to do would be to accept it in the spirit it was given.

@kateandme I really hope things will be okay for you.

@Orangetapemeasure I wouldn’t take MN as your barometer for whether or not to help a friend. I would also give it in an envelope with a printed note to explain what it’s for.

This wouldn't sit right with me. I assume whoever offered assumed you actually couldn't afford the repairs, or would be putting yourself in extreme hardship by doing so, not being unable to put savings away for your daughter.

I'd have to ask outright and find out who it was. Explain the situation and if they stand by their generous offer, keep the money and don't feel guilty.

This.
It's nice to know kind people exist. My jaw dropped open reading the OP. This doesn't happen where I'm from, the people at church (where we have been going for a long time) blank us (I may start going to a different one, our faces obviously don't fit). I'm glad you've had a good experience x

My friends who are involved with the church do this. If I remember correctly it's seen as a gesture of giving and helping others out without the awkwardness of directly offering money.

If you can, I would take it in the spirit intended - of kindness and friendship.

How much have they given you? My discomfort would be thinking I'd led anyone to believe I was more in need than I really was so I didn't really deserve the money. The anonymity means you have no control over that conversation.

But they could very well have decided for themselves that OP does deserve the money. It's arguably much worse and more awkward to put people in a position where they would really love to accept but don't think they could/should, for example.

@Vernatts123 I really think you should accept it and put it to good use/pay it forward in future. You understand the culture of giving within your community better than many on this thread do - they just won't be able to relate to the principles behind it.

(Also if you follow the tithing mores I presume 10% will go to others in need anyway - you'll be doing your bit in that regard)

It's obvious to me that it's fine from those who enquired. Be thankful that you have such kind and giving friends. Use it for the roof as that was what it was intended for and tell everyone in your friendship group how grateful and mystified you are by this extraordinary gift. Do not give it away. That would be rude and hurtful to those kind souls that care enough about you to give it in the first place.

My friends would say that 'it had come to them through prayer to give the money' ie a message from God.

So not based round how needy or hard up you might seem to be!

This is really about them fulfilling what they believe God has suggested to them, so about their relationship with God, not you! You're just the "lucky" recipient.

Don't give it away & tell everyone around you that you told about the roof, that you can now afford the roof & how grateful you are of the kindness in the world.

In coming months do your best to pay it forward. See a single mum struggling at the supermarket counting pennies - pay the bill

Pop a £10 in a homeless person hat

Pay for a meal in a pay it forward café.

What lovely people you have in your life & it must be your kindness that brought them there.

This post has warmed the cockles of my heart

Keep it.
It was given to you in kindness. Accept it with grace and appreciation. It was meant for your family.

Thank you 😊 that really lovely.

@Orangetapemeasure Ohh my friend had this! She put a envelope into the door that read

" Dear Reader,

You do not know me and i do not know you but i wanted to make a kind gesture with no return today so im giving this ( in her case) £5000 to whoever recieves it through theyre mailbox in hopes that it can better your day a little. Do what you wish with the money.

Kind Regards
Random Stranger"

Something like that, other friend was well chuffed

Having grown up in the church, before you mentioned it I was thinking "this is definitely a church thing". Could you enquire through the church that you don't need/want the kind gift and if it could be reallocated/donated?