A stranger helped me get enough gas to get home and just asked that I pay it forward

[u/FarmerBaker_3]

This happened a few years ago when gasoline was over $4 per gallon. I was on my way home from work and I noticed my gas tank was on E. I stopped at a gas station about halfway between my work and home.

When I reached over to get my purse, I realized it wasn't where it's supposed to be. I searched the whole vehicle and realized that I had completely forgotten my purse in my locker at work. In the midst of my mad searching I had managed to find some loose change under car seats and in the cup holder.

I gathered up all the loose change and went inside to prepay for my gasoline. I had less than $4, so it wasn't even going to buy one gallon. I just hoped I could get enough gas in the vehicle to make it home.

You can imagine the look on the clerk's face when I laid my hand full of change on the counter and said that I wanted to buy gasoline for pump number 3. He said, "seriously?!" I told him I'd forgotten my purse and this was all the change I could find in the car. At that point the guy behind me in line reached forward and handed me a $10 bill.

Honestly, it hadn't even occurred to me to ask anybody for help. I told the guy that if he would give me his contact information that I would pay him back the next day. He waved off the offer of repayment and told me just to pay it forward the next time I saw somebody else in need.

Since that day I have bought gasoline for 4 other strangers that were struggling. I also pass along the message that when they are able they should pay it forward.

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[u/Imaginary-Brick-2894]

Isn't it amazing when a nice stranger steps up? I've been there. Way before ATMs, ya, I'm that old, my purse was stolen at work. My husband had just flown out of town for a week on business, and I had nothing. A person at work that I had no idea existed came up to me and just pushed a $10 bill into my hand. (In 1976, pizza was about $2-$5) All he said was to pay it forward. It touched me just like your person touched you. I was lucky, I made cookies for him and brought them in the next week.

[u/Emotional_Bonus_934 → u/Imaginary-Brick-2894]

People are work were talking about how broke they were; I had a full tank of gas, food at home and empty bank account.

A kind colleague gave me $20 because he was worried about me. 

I picked up a woman standing in front of a storage unit with luggage, offered her a ride, gave her my just purchased Easter ham and when she mentioned it was her birthday I gave her the bouquet of flowers I'd bought.

[u/jIfte8-fabnaw-hefxob]

I was at my local convenience store about a year ago. There was a young woman asking the young guys who worked there if they could help her out with gas money and they all said, “Sorry, I’m broke.” I told the cashier to put $20.00 on my card to help her out. She was so grateful and I’ve never felt better about anything in my life.

[u/PlantsAreEverything]

I'm grateful for that stranger helping you out that night.

And I'm grateful that you've carried that kindness with you and paid it forward four times already.

[u/NairobiMuzungu]

I ran out of gas on the highway going home and realised i had no wallet, no cash, no nothing. A kind stranger stopped and gave me a lift to the gas station where he fronted me money for a jerry can full of gas and for the jerry can itself! He then drove me back to my car. On his dashboard i saw an envelope addressed to him, so i promised him that i would mail him a check for what he had spent. I did so and have been paying it forward since then.

[u/No_Tourist4832]

I put 200$ in small bills in my trunk for just such situations-never had to use it yet

[u/FarmerBaker_3 → u/No_Tourist4832]

After that incident I started hiding money in my car in random places. I try to make sure there's always an emergency stash around.

[u/blondechineeez → u/No_Tourist4832]

That's a great idea for some. Where I live so many vehicles are stolen daily and stripped then torched. I carry a spare key (I'm famous for locking keys inside)and a $20 in my wallet just in case. If my purse was ever stolen I'd be stuck tho.

[u/FarmerBaker_3 → u/blondechineeez]

My stash is usually around $20, not $200

[u/Fabulous-Train4571 → u/blondechineeez]

I keep emergency money behind my phone case. Luckily my emergencies are usually I left my purse at home, but my phone is ALWAYS with me. 😁

[u/VixenTraffic]

A few weeks ago I was getting gas and a young man in a newer car was parked at the pump in front of me. As I was putting my card in the pump, he approached and very nicely told me he “would never ask for money but he rolled in on fumes and didn’t have his wallet.”

The fact that he saw me pull in and only approached me when he saw me using my card made this situation seem fishy to me. And I’m poor too, so I was not filling his tank. I did get a five dollar bill from my purse and give it to him.

He immediately ran inside to pay, got gas, and left before I finished.

Before I left, I asked the attendant how many people gave him money before I did, and he told me no one, and that he never saw the guy before.

He also told me the guy really did seem desperate and that I did a good deed.

[u/FarmerBaker_3 → u/VixenTraffic]

I will say that 1 of the 4 people that I gave money to for gas, I think was a scam. And while I'm not rich by any means, I do have a roof over my head and plenty of food to eat. I did pause for a moment that time. But then I reminded myself that it's not my job to judge their circumstances.

[u/SadSack4573]

I joined the “pay it forward” years ago and it certainly feels good to be helpful

[u/housemistress]

I don’t have money to just hand out, but golly when someone spontaneously needs help and I can quickly just provide what they need without missing a beat in my day (even if I end up wishing I had more money at the end of the week or whatever) - THAT really tickles my fancy. The idea they might pay it forward and the ripple effect it could have, almost restores my faith in humanity.

[u/soul_reddish]

When I was an unemployed college kid in the mid-80s, mom sent me some money. Went to the convenience store - and covered the college girl ahead of me who left her wallet in the dorm. She swore she’d pay me back. I was kicking myself over & over, for misusing mom’s hard earned money. I could deal with the reduced funds, it was the disrespect to mom that killed me. Lo and behold, she DID pay me back.

I still help out when others are in a jam, but with my own money without expecting to be paid back.

[u/Substantial-Draw2395]

Glad the compassionate person helped you out.

[u/mistress_luddite]

When my husband gave me a surprise divorce for my 40th birthday, I was devastated. I never saw it coming. I was the family breadwinner but he had just had a successful gig and I guess as a sop to his conscience, he gave me half. I think it was $300. I. Was. Livid! I can't really explain why that set me off like a rocket, but it did! I didn't want his pittance, but I sure as hell wasn't going to give it back to him!

I had a new co-worker who was just 22; new to town; with a little baby; and she was also going through a divorce. And I knew that her new supervisor was completely insufferable! The next time I saw her, I handed her the cash my husband had given me. Unbeknownst to me, she was flat broke. She was SO grateful! We became besties despite our age difference and 24 years later we are still besties! We have been through hell and back together. We ended up sharing my house and our childcare. Our kids consider each other brother and sister. I was there when she met her 2nd husband. She introduced me to my partner that I have known nearly as long as I have known her! Neither of us knew just how much we needed each other, but we love each other like family. We ARE family.

[u/Emotional_Bonus_934]

That's great! I once got a half tank of gas with $5, change and a $10 gift card from points. 

I have enough points for a $10 gift card and am saving it for that broke moment. 

[u/echodreams]

Somebody did the same for me. Almost the same exact story except I didn't forget my purse, I just didn't have any money.

[u/Craftnerd24]

Many many years ago, I was working as an aide at a new summer program and didn’t have a car. One day, while waiting for the bus, another aide came up to me and asked if I took the bus everyday. I said yes. She said “well, I’ll take you home today and pick you up tomorrow.” She did it everyday for the entire 6 weeks and at the end said “Just do the same when you see someone else in need”

I have worked many job since that time, and I’ve probably been the long term “assistant” for 10 other people. Sometimes I think I’ve helped enough, but then I’m like “what if someone really needs it?” and I keep offering.

[u/mistress_luddite]

When my husband gave me a surprise divorce for my 40th birthday, I was devastated. I was completely blindsided. I was our family's primary breadwinner but my husband had just had a successful gig and I guess as a sop to his conscience he gave me half of the proceeds. I think it was $300. I don't know why this gesture set me off like a rocket but it did! I. Was. Livid! I didn't want his pittance, but I sure wasn't going to give it back to him!

I had a new young coworker who was just 22. She was new to town as she was also going through a divorce and wanted a fresh start in a new place. She also had a little baby, and I knew that her supervisor was/is the world's biggest bitch and was making her life miserable. The next time I saw her, I gave her that $300. Unbeknownst to me, she was flat broke. Despite our age difference, we became besties. 24 years later, we are STILL besties!

I never wanted that divorce, but it changed my life in so many good ways! Becky saved my sanity. She did more for me than my therapist! She introduced me to my partner, even though I wasn't ready for a new relationship. She said, "Don't look for a relationship. He's just someone to have dinner with." We took it slow and now we've been together for 23 years! I was with her when she met her 2nd husband. We have been to hell and back together! Our kids consider themselves to be brother and sister. We are family.

[u/FunnyCardiologist498]

I was working at a truck stop in 1997, I was 22. Two guys came in asking about any hotels area, small town. They said they broke down on the freeway and needed somewhere to stay. I called the local pastor and asked if they could help with a hotel voucher. Unfortunately they could not. So these guys said they were going to be send money by Western Union, and asked if we knew the closet one. Found out it was in the next town about 20 minutes away. They had no way to get there.

So being the nieve person I am I told them I got done at 11 and could drive them over there. So after my shift I got them in the car, one in front and the other behind him. About 1/2 way there I got a bad feeling in my gut, and kept looking back via the review mirror. There was no place to leave them because there was no other town.

We made it to Windom and they asked to get out before the store where their money was. I thought it was odd, but they said they would walk. So I left them and headed back.

I stopped back at work to let them know I made it ok. My coworker asked for their descriptions. Found out the car got towed to the local shop and they had a wrap sheet a mile long. Never gave anyone rides anymore, esp at night.

However in my town now we have a FB group called Gracious Givers that started with about 100 people, 5 years ago, and now has over 9,000 people in it. If someone needs something and a person has it to give away, we do porch pick ups and drop offs. Some people will order groceries to be delivered to the other person, or gift cards are given. The amount of things that get passed along to help others in need is truly amazing!!!

[u/Significant_Bass7618]

My pay it foward story is, I worked 2nd shift in town, live 15 miles out, one winter night on way home (2 am) I saw a car beside road with older lady standing beside it, I stopped and asked if shw was ok or needed help. She said had a flat and wasnt able to change it, didn't know how! I changed it for her and she offered to pay me, I told her to help someone out sometime. She thanked me and drove off.