Help! I Wanted to Extend a Simple Thank You to a Neighbor. But They Took Advantage of My Generosity.

"If there is snow in the forecast, I will call a snow removal service to clean our property while we are gone. Our last trip, no snow was forecasted, so I didn't make arrangements. We had a "freak" snowfall of about an inch, and on our security cameras, I noticed Tom shoveling our driveway and sidewalk after the snow had passed."

"A little more work than just a "thanks" would be enough, so knowing he works from home, I texted him one day and told him I would take him out for lunch, pick the day, and his choice of restaurant, for shoveling the snow while we were gone. He picked a restaurant with higher dinner prices but an affordable lunch menu. I was surprised that Cindy was with him when he arrived."

"I am somewhat upset because Tom did the work, Cindy did nothing, and she ordered off the regular menu instead of the lunch menu, so her meal cost the same as what my lunch and Tom's lunch dishes cost, plus she "needed" a cocktail with her lunch. I was secretly seething and actually thought about telling the waiter to split the bill with Cindy paying her own way, but I paid the whole bill anyway."

Retired couple takes weeklong trips and asks neighbors Tom and Cindy to collect mail and keep the house warm. Tom usually retrieves the mail. During a recent trip an unexpected inch of snow fell and Tom shoveled the driveway and sidewalk. The homeowner offered to take Tom to lunch as thanks and invited him to pick the restaurant and day. Tom selected a restaurant with higher dinner prices but an affordable lunch menu. Cindy joined, having taken half the day off, ordered from the regular menu and had a cocktail, raising the bill. The homeowner paid the full bill but felt resentment and seeks guidance on fair repayment.

Read at Slate Magazine