Charity Jobs

[Dizzy_Maskell]

Seen a guy do a free job on here over weekend and got me thinking how many other people do free jobs for the needy,

I'm thinking of doing a couple if jobs a year for free for those who I think genuinely need it,

If I got spare parts and spare time I think I could manage make someone else's life a bit better if I think they are in genuine need.

I ve done the odd light switch change or fix loose cables before and not charged people obviously hard up for 5 min work and just wondered how many other guys do it??????

 

[tidyboiler]

........................ where did you say you lived?? :rofl:

 

[AndyL]

Have you tried Favourss - Favours for Favours Dizzy. Often people on here in need of help but unable to pay with cash, so other a favour in return

 

[tidyboiler]

When I was a store manager at Oxfam, we often had people do little jobs for us gratis. We had a man who used to come and check out electrical goods before they went on sale, someone who was a book expert and realistically priced unusual books for us, (we even had a 1st edition Jungle Book and Pocahontas which were collector's items, and subsequently got nicked) a jeweller, art collector, and brick a brack lady who all came in each week to guide us on prices. I think it's nice if you can do things for others without expecting things in return, and I love the idea of bartering like in the old days.............. you do that for me, I'll do that for you... no payment involved. :biggrin5:

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve never been one for doing domestic work but living in a small village I’d get asked to have a look at Mrs, Browns lights etc. Never charged for it, it was part of village life.

Home made wine, cakes and pastries arrived at the house on a regular basis. Mrs, Barton’s meat and potato pies were ones to die for.

The only bit of village life I miss.

 

[Des 56]

Its nice to read of some of the kindness of you folk on here,it makes a change

 

[Paultrim123321]

Would be nice if he did some work for his employer....

 

[markc123]

Dizzy, can i ask is this inspired by DIY SOS lastnight by any chance?

Was pretty good, and those folk did a grand job it has to be said.

 

[Guest55]

it warms my heart to hear such tales of charity & kindness from members of the forum.

all of which helps to offset the money grabbing evilness of me charging dayrate to even family.

;-)

 

[tidyboiler]

it warms my heart to hear such tales of charity & kindness from members of the forum.

all of which helps to offset the money grabbing evilness of me charging dayrate to even family.

;-)

My ex-husband was/is a Ford technician.... skilled up to his eyeballs but always charged his dad for putting a clutch in his Escort or changing the brakes.

 

[markc123]

And that's why you are living off a diet of fast cars and hookers...

whilst we're getting absoltuley fingered by our own generosity - eating at food banks, and driving reliant robins.

 

[Badged01]

And that's why you are living off a diet of fast cars and hookers...

Jealous ....

 

[GMES]

Posts 3 & 11 have got me intrigued favours for favours and hookers suddenly charity work seems more appealing, where do I sign up.

 

[ferg]

Whenever I do a quick fix for someone I know is skint, through no fault of their own, Ill normally do it gratis.

If it looks like it's going to be something bigger I have to ask myself whether or not I can afford it myself.

I don't mind helping out where I can but I'm a business.

 

[markc123]

I remember when i was at college a lad bragging that he had took a 10er off a old dear for replacing a fuse in the microwave.

Not sure if thats true, but slightly harsh if it is - if the extent of the work was was as minimal as that, then i'd probably do it for free.

 

[Guest55]

Whenever I do a quick fix for someone I know is skint, through no fault of their own, Ill normally do it gratis.

i can see your problem quite clearly , its that your client base consists of poor people

you wanna kick these skint losers to the kerb and only hobnob with those who can afford your services.
basic business sense really.

 

[Dizzy_Maskell]

Not sure if it counts but changed a light in my own house the other day and did not charge the Mrs a penny.

Well they say charity starts at home

 

[Rockingit]

I'll occasionally temper my charge if the job was v quick, close to home and I genuinely felt that the customer needs the money more than I do. BUT - I always charge, and that's the important thing. People (esp the old) are proud, and whilst glad of a cheap job don't want to be seen as a charity case. Also, if my work is 'free', then it has no value, so is therefore worthless. So yes, there will be (rare) times when I'll do a house call and spend an hour to earn a fiver.

 

[Andy78]

I occasionally do small jobs for free. When I say small I mean small though, and only for friends, family, and the odd good neighbour. They always get returned with favours.

I put up a couple of light fittings for a really nice elderly neighbour of ours. I said there was no need to pay me anything as it didn't take long. She wouldn't have it and insisted on giving me £20 telling me I was daft if I didn't take it and would never make any money that way.

 

[Dcf]

I find the odd little job on the way home that gets done for nothing leads to a bigger job later on.
i try not to make a habit of it tbf.
i spent a couple of days a few years back at a children's hospice doing a new kitchen install.
the promised publicity never came but I wasn't that bothered as it was quite a sobering experience.
there is a wall in the corridor with photos off all the kids who were their who had died.
that would have brought a tear to a glass eye I'll tell ya.
i took my lad down on the 2nd day to kind of show him how well off he was.
so a few days time and some stuff isn't really much in the grand scheme of things

 

[Knobhead]

Would be nice if he did some work for his employer....

Come off it, I was too busy running my photographic repair business at work.

Just going back to village life, my local was just opposite the Methodist Chapel. If I did anything for them, the minister left a tab for me in the pub.
Methodist + Drink aren’t supposed to go together.

 

[Knobhead]

As for clubbing together.

At work we had a skills bank. It worked great amongst the tradesmen. I can’t think of anything we couldn’t do. If you didn’t have a trade, you laboured.

We could even buy materials through the company. That started when we built a triple garage for the MD. It was funny seeing him falling down a trench with a wheel barrow.

 

[ferg]

I'll occasionally temper my charge if the job was v quick, close to home and I genuinely felt that the customer needs the money more than I do. BUT - I always charge, and that's the important thing. People (esp the old) are proud, and whilst glad of a cheap job don't want to be seen as a charity case. Also, if my work is 'free', then it has no value, so is therefore worthless. So yes, there will be (rare) times when I'll do a house call and spend an hour to earn a fiver.

Yep that is a very fine line...
I have in the past, to avoid offending someone, given them some cards ( a recommendation from you is worth more than cash) or if they have hens asked for some eggs.

If and elderly person won't have it and puts a few quid in your hand / pocket take it with thanks.

I'm going to show my age here

When I was very young the Juice ( pop for the English) delivery guy came to an elderly relatives house, she gave him a tip and said "get yersel a drink with that son."
The reply was " I'll no get much o a drink wi that missus"

Getting close to 40 years later I can still feel her fury