Do you "Pay it Forward"?

Funny that you ask; I did that VERY THING this morning, at the gas station.

After I pumped my gasoline, I went inside to purchase a cup of coffee.

While in line, I noticed a lady with three small children, come in and immediatly went to the "fast-food" aisle, where she picked out an assortment of food items for her and her kid's.

I paid MY bill for the coffee, then gave the clerk enough money to pay for the food the lady picked for herself and her kid's. (I estimated that her food items wouldn't cost MORE than $20)

The lady seemed "astonished" that some "stranger" would actually pay for her meals, and tried to get the clerck to reveal my identity, but he didn't.

I must confess though, I didn't do this 'deed for her, I did it for me, because, it felt good, and I will do it again, soon.

Thank YOU for asking, and sharing your experience's.

I've seen the movie twice and it rocks. This is what happened to me. I became friends with this girl on MySpace and I really wanted to go to this concert but didn't have enough money, and we didn't know one another well, and she actually went on Ebay and BOUGHT me a ticket to the show. She spent like $60! I was so amazed, I was speechless. I asked her what I could do in return for her kindness and she replied, "Do something nice for someone else."

I pay with honesty & helpful information when I see a person who appears to be lost or hungry. The results are up to the person. I just make sure to give them clear & concise directions, rather than "guess" at where they might want to go to. I have taken some people to the transit center & made sure that they boarded the correct bus, then I gave the money to the bus driver & the driver handed them their pass to use on the bus. I tell the driver where the person wants to go & ask them to call out the stop for that person when they arrive!

I learned that giving money is not a good idea & expecting employees to juggle the money issues between customers is an invitation for disaster. I don't think of it as "paying it forward" as much as simply being a "good citizen" in my community.

I was doing this before I heard about the idea. I've made it a habit to take the homeless out to eat in a nice restaurant. On one particular occasion-I saw this homeless man drinking a cup of coffee in a Jack-in-the Box while everyone around him had a full meal. On my way out-I pretended to find money on the floor near his table. When I put the money on top of his table I just said, "I think you dropped this." He looked at me and said "And I have something for you." He rummaged through his belongings and pulled out a box with a beautiful ceramic angel in it. When he handed it to me, he had no idea that I collect angels. Somehow,maybe he did. The whole experience really made my day. I've had a lot of good experiences with it-really too many to list.

First let me add this is very kind of you.

I received a e-mail talking about this.

So I thought I have to do this.

I choose to pay for the two younger boys behind me..the lady taking the money was confused,I was explaining what I wanted to do. after I finally got her payed I looked back at the two young men and low and behold they gave me a finger and told me to get to moving.

I got a new shiny white Monte Carlo and I had been wanting to try it out I was so mad I left some rubber right in front of them.

that's a great thing to do, I have never done that, but I did give a little money to a lady ahead of me in line at a grocery store, she didn't have enough to pay her bill, also you can pay for the car behind you when you are at a toll booth, but make sure it is car and not a semi, you get really pay out there.

I don't think that's what it means to "pay it forward". Anyway it used to be when someone pays for someone's meal (or drink) behind them (or in their presence) it's like asking them for a date, it's being bold, it's flirting. Some people are afraid to accept it thinking you may follow them home for a good time. Still others may think you're saying to them they are poor or homeless and that will embarrass them not make them feel good about what you're doing. Why not pay it forward for someone who really needs it to like to your church's food bank or to your nearest Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.

I have never done it.

We have a Ford Mustang commercial on tv with a gal in a red Mustang paying for the guy in the black car behind her.

I've done that at toll booths on the roadways especially here in NJ where almost every road has a toll. I've never done it at a fast food drive thru.

No I never have but I have heard of this, They wouldn't be going through the line if they didn't have enough money to pay for what they ordered, I would rather help someone from a soup kitchen