Getting Paid For Helping Others
By thedaddym
@thedaddym (1731)
United States
January 23, 2012 10:46am CST
As a profession I am a system's analyst therefore when ever friends or family or friends of friends or friends of family need help with their computers they always call me. I am always happy to help even though the problems usually take a few hours. I don't ask for anything in return I just figure if I ever need a favor they will owe me one 
. Sometimes people will give me a few dollars or buy me lunch or something but most of the time I don't get anything which is fine with me but it drives my wife nuts as she thinks these people are taking advantage of me. Last week I went and set up my Barber's computer it took me several hours to get everything all done. My wife asked me if I at least got a free haircut for my time and I said no. That really irritated her. Do you think I should have asked for a free hair cut? Do you think he should have offered?
. Sometimes people will give me a few dollars or buy me lunch or something but most of the time I don't get anything which is fine with me but it drives my wife nuts as she thinks these people are taking advantage of me. Last week I went and set up my Barber's computer it took me several hours to get everything all done. My wife asked me if I at least got a free haircut for my time and I said no. That really irritated her. Do you think I should have asked for a free hair cut? Do you think he should have offered?2 people like this
7 responses
@sajeevking (5073)
• Mumbai, India
23 Jan 12
Well really depend on how close that person is too you and whether you wanted something in return
i am not that bad with computer whenever some of my friends ask for help i drop by and try to fix the problem. few of them help back and few are just 
but i don't mind
well but yeah if its someone whom i don't know at all i would except something in return but if i know them or my friends know them i feel kinda shy to ask for any thing in return
mostly ever whenever i fix pc problems of my friends i ask for a treat , but usually just get a tea or a juice, or even better a good breakfast, not offer by the friend though but by the moms
but i don't mind
well but yeah if its someone whom i don't know at all i would except something in return but if i know them or my friends know them i feel kinda shy to ask for any thing in return
mostly ever whenever i fix pc problems of my friends i ask for a treat , but usually just get a tea or a juice, or even better a good breakfast, not offer by the friend though but by the moms1 person likes this
@thedaddym (1731)
• United States
23 Jan 12
My wife feels that at very least he could have fed me some lunch.
@sajeevking (5073)
• Mumbai, India
23 Jan 12
i too feel the same the barber should have offer you something but maybe when you got to get a hair cut he would not charge you
@hmkoct5 (2065)
• United States
23 Jan 12
I definitely think the barber should have offered you a free haircut. It would have been a simple courtesy and wouldn't have cost the barber anything to do that for you, especially since you did so much to help him out. Bartering is an age old thing and I think it's perfectly acceptable to trade one service for another. It doesn't feel good to be take advantage of.
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
24 Jan 12
I have to along with your wife on this one. The barber should have offered you a free hair cut in exchange for your services, you kind of a you scratch my back I'll scratch yours type of thing. I wouldn't feel right having someone do that much work for me and spend that many hours and not do anything for them in return. If not a free hair cut at least lunch.
@chelley (129)
• Philippines
24 Jan 12
Bless you thedaddym for helping others without asking for anything in return. I can see you are a very true friend that loves to help others even on your family bonding time. God Bless thedaddym and pls don't stop doing what you like to do the most! :)
@rmnrmn (688)
• India
24 Jan 12
Very interesting issue :D haha
Yes you must ask your barber for free hair cut ( which your wife insist you). According to me, this how you can also check if the other party whom you helped once is helpful like you or not.
In this cruel and selfish world, nobody remember the help they get from someone and do not help back them. Check it out asking your barber. If your barber was a nice person, the very day you helped him, should have asked you for a free hair cut in his saloon.
@crossbones27 (49432)
• Mojave, California
23 Jan 12
I think he should of offered at least 3 free haircuts if that is how long it took. This is why the country is so irritated with each other right now. We keep taking advantage of one an other. I would have no problem if it was for some kind of charity group or if you were helping out a friend who needed help because he was broke. It sounds like it was your barbers business so he was financially stable. He could at least offer you a couple of haircuts when he was not busy.
