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OP I think you handled it just right. Sounds like you have a great bunch of friends. Reciprocation when one of them needs some help in the future would be the only additional thing you should keep in mind.
I don't understand the taboo against financial transactions among friends/family. In all seriousness, money is a simple economic substitute for goods and services. Why do people get so uncomfortable? Geesh!
In my experience it depends on who the person is who's offering to help. If it was a close friend or family member, I would offer to pay them. But if they refused that, I wouldn't push it. I have family members who have helped me out in the past & wouldn't take anything in return for it, and would become annoyed if I tried to insist. So I just left it at 'if you ever need a favor, let me know'. It might be different with someone who's not a close friend (like a neighbor, coworker, etc.). In that case I would be more insistent in compensating them. I think you need to take it on a case by case basis, but always be willing to pay someone for help regardless of who it is. You don't to start taking people for granted.
I pay friends and family in pizza and beer. Or BBQ and beer. Or whiskey. Depends on who's helping us, really, LOL. And in actuality, DH and I rarely ask anyone for help for anything, we just do things ourselves. We've moved twice and our friends and siblings offered to help us and they were all fine getting fed and "beered" up. Always turns into a party at some point and who doesn't like a chill house party?
I bought them lunch (we just went to Chipotle) and then a pizza/breadsticks afterwards.
They drove down 1.5 - 2 hours the night before for a party we had and offered to help shovel. I figured lunch and dinner, despite being cheap food, would suffice.
Wasn't sure how others felt on this subject?
I usually do what you did; pay in food and entertainment. Also, alcohol (we've got a pretty stocked bar here). I also help friends with their houses, so it all washes out anyway.
I would feel weird paying my friends and I wouldn't take money from them for helping them with something.
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