Simple, but satisfying

[brookscooper]

Across the street neighbor is not a handy guy at all. Just bought a small pop-up trailer for camping. It has propane on the tongue but no battery. He's spent hours working out how to wire the trailer.

Asked me if I'd weld up the battery tray and attach it inside the tongue.

4 pieces of angle iron and 4 welds onto the tongue. Took all of 2 hours, including cutting, prepping welding locations, etc.

Neighbor was super grateful.

Just posting to say - it's nice to be able to help friends and neighbors.

Also, he brought me beer. All is well.

 

[Kracin]

it's always rewarding to help out a friend or neighbor, just gotta watch out when word spreads that you are helpful, nice, and didn't charge.... lol then you gotta start learning to turn some people down sometimes.

 

[Kevin54]

Across the street neighbor is not a handy guy at all. Just bought a small pop-up trailer for camping. It has propane on the tongue but no battery. He's spent hours working out how to wire the trailer.

Asked me if I'd weld up the battery tray and attach it inside the tongue.

4 pieces of angle iron and 4 welds onto the tongue. Took all of 2 hours, including cutting, prepping welding locations, etc.

Neighbor was super grateful.

Just posting to say - it's nice to be able to help friends and neighbors.

Also, he brought me beer. All is well.

It gives a person personal satisfaction when you can help someone out. I know it does me, although I have been taken advantage of at times. It's still great though to help people.

And have you ever noticed that beer seems to be the universal payment for things. I've been on both sides of the fence there

 

[BMW Rider]

And have you ever noticed that beer seems to be the universal payment for things. I've been on both sides of the fence there

Beer is a powerful currency which I too have accepted and proffered for services rendered.

 

[aggierailroad]

Beer is a powerful currency which I too have accepted and proffered for services rendered.

Agreed with OP and BMW Rider - just sweetened the deal on some vintage tool purchases from Craigslist with a sixer of homebrew. Universal currency

 

[Spam16v]

Attitude and being humble gets you a long way with me. I don't drink, but Blue Monsters are my universal currency for favors or **** I'm unloading to locals on forums.

 

[waggie]

did a similar motorcycle mod for a friend's low budget Ducati. it involved cutting a .75" DOM tubing on my bandsaw, and welding some all thread to it. Took 10 minutes, and he insisted on paying, saying other "friend" wanted $20 for it... I charged him $1 and called it even.

 

[aka Larry]

I know what you mean and agree to some extent. My across the street neighbor is a cop who has zero mechanical ability. He's asked me for help several times, and I did help each time he asked, but he never offered payment. I wouldn't have accepted if he did, but in his case I doubt he'll ever get a chance to "return the favor" or even he even feels the slightest bit in my debt. I've been told he'd give his own mother a speeding ticket if given the chance so I'm not even sure he'd cut me a break...though I gave up speeding over 10 years ago.

Not to be too sexiest to the ladies here, but I'm really amazed at how many of today's males have zero ability with anything other than using their thumbs on the screen of an iPhone. I'm no rocket scientist, or real mechanic, but damn at least I can turn a wrench, hammer a nail, read a tape measure, etc.

 

[rednecklimo85]

This winter was our first winter at our house, and it felt great to be able to help neighbors dig out from the big storm's. One neighbor repaid me with some gas when the gas stations were all closed/out of gas.

I think the a lot of the problem with people of my generation(28 y.o.) manifested with their parents. Growing up my dad did everything himself and still does, that naturally transferred to me by helping him out and will teach my own kids the same value's. Not to say that some people just have no interest, but if your fathers/grandfathers etc. taught you to hire a mechanic/carpenter/plumber/whatever every time something needed to be fixed... well you get the point.

 

[Bugeyed Earl]

I'm one the "helpful guys" on my block, and sometimes help out my neighbors with fairly technical stuff that's beyond their abilities. I don't have any problems with them taking advantage of me, and they always offer to pay for my time, but I typically decline the offers and tell them I'll probably need a favor someday. That's good enough for most friends and neighbors.

I've learned that there are some people who don't like to feel indebted (or something like that,) and they'll insist on paying me on the spot, whether in cash or barter. I didn't always recognize it, but I think this is a fairly common reaction from business owners or or self-employed types. I imagine the reasoning is that they don't give away their time for free, so they expect to pay for someone else's.

I'm fine with that, but occasionally it makes me wish I didn't do such a half-assed job.

 

[waggie]

I'm really amazed at how many of today's males have zero ability with anything other than using their thumbs on the screen of an iPhone. I'm no rocket scientist, or real mechanic, but damn at least I can turn a wrench, hammer a nail, read a tape measure, etc.

it is a sad state of affairs. I completely agree with you here.

 

[InPrimer]

I was brought up to believe," a friend in need is a friend indeed".This is what I've learned in the last 60+ yrs of life. There are givers and there are takers, but I try to fair to all, sometimes I get burned but mostly I get a lot of satisfaction in what I do, and eventually we all get our just reward.

 

[rharman]

<snip>
Not to be too sexiest to the ladies here, but I'm really amazed at how many of today's males have zero ability with anything other than using their thumbs on the screen of an iPhone. I'm no rocket scientist, or real mechanic, but damn at least I can turn a wrench, hammer a nail, read a tape measure, etc.
</snip>

it is a sad state of affairs. I completely agree with you here.

My wife would agree too. Sometimes, we'll see some chucklehead on DIY or HGTV who can't figure out which end of a screwdriver to use and she just shakes her head. She knows WAY more than those loons.

She's commented that she would not have married someone who couldn't build or fix things - "it's just part of being a man".

 

[rharman]

About 4-5 months ago, neighbor & his wife across the street asked for advice. They bought a new car and it barely fit in the garage - maybe 1/2" clearance for the garage door. Wanted my suggestions on modifying the cabinets at the front of the garage to get more bumper space.

I looked and told them my ideas. They asked "how much would you charge us?". I said you must be kidding - this is fun for me and neighbors help neighbors - no way I would consider doing it for money.

So, next day we get to work - neighbor and my wife helping. Took out the center section of low cabinets and top (like a work bench). Cut 9" off the back, shortened the three drawers & slides. Rebuilt the face frame where they broke it the first time parking the new car. Took a few hours. They bought the wife and me lunch. Everyone happy. And, I got to use my new mitersaw stand.

A few days later, a card shows up in the mail. Inside was a check. We talked and I again explained it wasn't done for profit but they were insistent that I keep it.

 

[koditten]

Beer has much more value than cash in many cases, I agree. Even tho, I may have overplayed my cost to do favors. I just volenteered my service to install a 5th wheel hitch in my best friends truck. I've done these before and they are always work. told him I would do the job for a case of beer. Oh, well. I should be able to play the that was a bigger job than expected card in the future.

 

[Oldbear]

Beer is the universal currency in my world - or pizza or BBQ... for the bigger jobs

 

[Ifixvws]

I think its also the lost art of "Grease". No one knows how to "Grease". Need something done asap? A little cash in the hand so to speak goes a long way.

I always apply a little grease to everything. When my house was being built. I came to the house site every weekend and again on Wednesdays or Thursdays. I would always fill a cooler with bottled water and powerade. On Thursdays I would leave a case of beer for them to take home too. Total cost $150-200. Towards the end of the build the foreman called me and asked if was planning on using the garage for a shop when done(I had been insulating the walls). I said I was and they sheet rocked the entire garage for free.

 

[Fixnair]

This discussion reminds me of a saying I heard years ago. "If you aren't good looking you had better be handy". I am definitely handy.
What I would like to have on my headstone-"he helped"
Thanks for helping your neighbor.

 

[neonnblack]

I did my friends timing belt and head gasket yesterday. No charge, i learned new **** and that was payment enough.

 

[Responder]

What I would like to have on my headstone-"he helped"
Thanks for helping your neighbor.

That, ladies and gentlemen, says it all. We have all "overpaid" and been "taken advantage of" but in the end, all you have is your name and I want my name to be good!