• the_infernal_optimist said on Dec 28, 2007....

  We're in that tight situation right now, and believe me - if a friend gave it free and clear, I would accept with an extremely grateful heart!
  
  I would try to repay at a later date though - in a million small ways if they wouldn't accept the money back like that.
  
  ~Infernal
  

• silverwhisper said on Dec 28, 2007....

  i would accept it. but yes, i'd pay it back. :>
  
  ed

• EvilTwin said on Dec 28, 2007....

  I have always been taught to refuse such offers.  I have only been offered once in earnest.  And I have to admit that I am considering it...  But I would be compelled to repay it, gift or no.  It is how I was raised, and what I believe in.  It is not so much pride as what I believe to be right...

• uniquely-ironic said on Dec 28, 2007....

  I have had to accept such an offer which I found extremely difficult.  I was very embarrassed at my finances and have offered numerous times to repay it.  I finally had to setting for repaying it through acts of kindness, to that person and others.

• hidufel said on Dec 28, 2007....

  i would try to turn it away... but in truth, if i really needed it, i would accept. And i would try to pay it back if i could... but i also realize,  recognizing that it wouldn't be offered if the donor didn't think it was a justified expenditure on their part.
  
  
  

• secretlife said on Dec 28, 2007....

  i have a hard time with money --- i'd take a loan, but i'd pay it back if my situation were such that there was no other way.
   

• lalalalalala said on Dec 28, 2007....

  i'd take it and run!

  no, just kidding.  i wouldn't run.

  but i'd take it and i'd take care of my friend in the future. i'd owe her/him one.

   

• lfbno7 said on Dec 28, 2007....

  If someone offers me a gift, I accept it. I don't have a problem with it at all. It's not an issue. God knows I've given enough myself. One thing I find a little lacking in class is when I offer to give someone something, they say no, they will only accept it as a loan, and then they don't pay it back anyway. But since I meant it as a gift in the first place, I don't feel ripped off. Then there were times when a friend has asked me for a loan and I've given it to them, at a time when I really couldn't afford to be out that money, and that was the last I saw of the money. Still, once you let something go, don't be too sure you're getting it back. I wasn't surprised. But again, to answer your question, if you offer me a gift I'm taking it, and I have no hesitation.

• travelr712 said on Dec 28, 2007....

  if someone offered and i needed it, yes, i'd accept it. i wouldn't insist on paying it back either. here's how i see it. i've given money to people who've needed it before to pay bills and buy food and what not. and i never expected it back and never got it back. so if i'm in need, and a friend has money and can help me, it's just carrying on with that same value.

• lalalalalala said on Dec 28, 2007....

  trav, you worded your response so well...that's what i was trying to say!

  so i'm seconding what trav said everyone! ha!

• quietone said on Dec 29, 2007....

  If it were offered to me as a "gift" and I knew the person was able to spare what was offered..I would concider it a "gift" with gratitude. If I were the giver and someone tried to pay me back for my "gift" I would concider that kind of ungrateful of them.  a "gift" is just that! 

• CreativeWoman said on Dec 29, 2007....

  I don't know if it's pride or independence, but I have a hard time letting people help me in general.  I also have a hard time feeling pitied.  Someone did offer me a large sum of money once.  There were some strings attached although I was told I never would have to pay it back if I couldn't.  I said no.  Sometimes I wonder how my life would have been different had I said yes.
  
  CW
  

• polarheart said on Dec 29, 2007....

  Alyss, I have and I would accept it as a gift, but I would make sure from the giver that it is a gift and not a loan, and if it were a loan I would establish how they would want repayment.  People I did not know very well paid for a return plane ticket to South Africa last year for me.  I told them no, it is too much of a generous gift, but they insisted and I had to make it quite clear that I would never be able to pay it back and that they should be very, very sure and that I would not be offended if they changed their minds.  They still insisted and I received a lovely holiday.

• beyondtheveil said on Dec 29, 2007....

  alyss- If I was in somewhat dire straights and someone offered a gift to help, it would depend on the giver as to whether I should accept or pay it back later. If it's a true, loving friend who can be trusted with word and deed, I would accept. There are so many ways to reciprocate later that mean more than money. 

• hotaka said on Jan 01, 2008....

  I would be touched that someone had noticed my struggles and was offering to help. At first I would refuse. Then I would accept but I wouldn't think about paying it back. Not in cash anyway. I would mark that person for a future returning favour and when I could afford it, I would buy a present or cook a dinner or give a gift back to say thanks. Or I might just offer to help out with my time like babysitting or helping with a move or something. But, of course, I am refering rather small amounts of money. If we are talking hundreds or even thousands of dollars I would have to refuse. I could not accept such an offering unless it was from a rich relative who really insisted he/she didn't need the money. I don't have any rich relatives so I don't need to think about that.

• Alyss said on Jan 03, 2008....

  Thank you for your replies.
  
  It's a complicated thing isn't it, accepting money as a gift. Were I to be offered then I think my response would be dependent on just how badly I needed it. I have a hard time in general accepting, let alone asking for help so I suspect I might well refuse. If I did accept then I would expect to repay it either in kind or in deeds of equal worth.

Comment on "An offer you couldn't refuse?"

Currently tagged	finances gift money loan (Click to add tags below)
Tag this post	(Separate tags using commas, for example: New York, dating, vegetarian)
Your comment
	Comment Anonymously