To gift or not to gift? (free, Phoenix, never, love)
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I happen to love Edible Arrangements and they have all sorts of selections to choose from. It's a gift a little out of the ordinary, not extravagant and let's her know you really appreciate her helping you out in your time of need.
That's another idea for the coworker, if you are so inclined. It was awfully nice of her to pass along the tickets.
I have an Aunt who works for a major airline. Occasionally she'll get free guest passes for free travel to give to other people. When my mom passed away unexpectedly 2 months ago, she graciously offered to fly me home with two of those guest passes. Come to find out, a coworker had offered them to her for me (I'm guessing she didn't have any to give me herself). I was beyond grateful.
A few weeks later, my Aunt texted me to ask me how I was doing. Later on in our converstaion, she mentioned if I needed to go home to take care of things, to let her know and she'd fly me again. I took her up on her offer and am flying home again today for the weekend. We're selling my mom's house and I'm helping with the estate sale and moving/packing/cleaning.
Is it appropriate for me to give my Aunt a gift for something she received for free? I want to do something nice for her, but I'm not sure HOW much or if I should even do anything. Some people I've asked have said not to worry about it. Because of her generosity, she has saved me around $1,000 in airfare.
Thoughts?
Sorry for your loss MA, but yes definitely get her something and something for her coworker since that was the one who offered to her for you.
Airline employees are given 5-10 passes to give away every year. They can't sell them and they can't use them, they are for family and friends. She was really not going out of her way to give them to you. A lot of people end up trashing their passes because they can't find anyone to give them too. They would all love for someone to use them rather than sending it to the trash(the passes are only good for one year then they get new ones), hence the coworker passing on her passes as well.
It's really no big deal for either of them but a nice thank you and at most a thank you card are all that should be required.
I am so sorry about your mom. In regard to your aunt, you should definitely give her some kind of thank you. You might consider asking her if there is anything in your mom's house that she would like. Sometimes things we'd get rid of have a sentimental value to others, so it wouldn't hurt to ask.
I have an Aunt who works for a major airline. Occasionally she'll get free guest passes for free travel to give to other people. When my mom passed away unexpectedly 2 months ago, she graciously offered to fly me home with two of those guest passes. Come to find out, a coworker had offered them to her for me (I'm guessing she didn't have any to give me herself). I was beyond grateful.
A few weeks later, my Aunt texted me to ask me how I was doing. Later on in our converstaion, she mentioned if I needed to go home to take care of things, to let her know and she'd fly me again. I took her up on her offer and am flying home again today for the weekend. We're selling my mom's house and I'm helping with the estate sale and moving/packing/cleaning.
Is it appropriate for me to give my Aunt a gift for something she received for free? I want to do something nice for her, but I'm not sure HOW much or if I should even do anything. Some people I've asked have said not to worry about it. Because of her generosity, she has saved me around $1,000 in airfare.
Thoughts?
MA, I am so sorry for your loss!
YES, by all means, give your aunt a gift of some kind along with a nice card to say you appreciate her help at this time. The gift does not need to be expensive - some nice bubble bath, a yankee candle, etc.
I have an Aunt who works for a major airline. Occasionally she'll get free guest passes for free travel to give to other people. When my mom passed away unexpectedly 2 months ago, she graciously offered to fly me home with two of those guest passes. Come to find out, a coworker had offered them to her for me (I'm guessing she didn't have any to give me herself). I was beyond grateful.
A few weeks later, my Aunt texted me to ask me how I was doing. Later on in our converstaion, she mentioned if I needed to go home to take care of things, to let her know and she'd fly me again. I took her up on her offer and am flying home again today for the weekend. We're selling my mom's house and I'm helping with the estate sale and moving/packing/cleaning.
Is it appropriate for me to give my Aunt a gift for something she received for free? I want to do something nice for her, but I'm not sure HOW much or if I should even do anything. Some people I've asked have said not to worry about it. Because of her generosity, she has saved me around $1,000 in airfare.
Thoughts?
I'm always very appreciative of things like this. My MIL (to be) is also a flight attendant and she has offered several times for us to fly free if we make any plans to go anywhere and I absolutely would feel bad if I didn't get something as a token of that appreciation for her if we took her up on her offer.
I definitely think you should do something and you know, don't think of it as "omg, I have to get something with the same face value". I think any small token like a gift card to her favorite store would be appropriate.
I'm sure she'd love whatever you do. I'd also include a thank you card and explain how much you really do appreciate it.
Good luck!!
I'm also definitely with the "give her a gift" crowd... you aren't "obligated" to do so, but she was not "obligated" to give you the tickets. Honestly, I'm glad to hear that you'd intended to give her something to begin with... good for you!
I love the idea of a photo in a really lovely frame... I'd also be keeping her in mind as you are closing up the house. There may be mementos there of their childhood your aunt isn't even aware still exist which she would probably be very glad to have, so even if you've already given her something at that point, keeping her in mind and offering those items to her would just be the right thing to do.
Another nice idea might be a gift certificate to a favorite restaurant or dinner theater tickets to a live stage production. It may not have cost her anything to give you those tickets, but the "value" of them doesn't rest in the money, it rests in the benefit to YOUR life which resulted from the giving of them. It sounds like the benefit was quite high. If you can figure out how to accomplish it, a dining gift card for the co-worker would not be out of line either.
They made your life so much easier and less stressful during a very trying time... therein lies the value of what you've been given.
Again, I'm very sorry for your loss... and I wish you and your family well.
a hand written card/note and maybe a memento from your mother if you cant afford something. or maybe ask her if she wanted anything that belonged to her sister. give her first dibs. shes been more than generous and helpful.
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