What would you get as a thank you gift for a stranger if your only options were Aldi or a little Co-Op?

Posted by pusopdiro@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 60 comments

I fell off my bike this morning and a very nice lady who lived in the house next to where I fell helped me and insisted on me leaving the bike there and her husband driving me to work. I want to get them something to say thank you but it's quite an industrial area after the residential area and the only places I could realistically get to on my lunch break/the walk back is the Aldi or a little Co-Op (or various vape shops or takeaways). I was thinking flowers and chocolates but would they be offended by cheap chocolate/are flowers an imposition (what if they don't have a vase)? I've never really had to do anything like this before so I wanted to seek advice I guess? TIA!

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RoutineCloud5993@reddit

Unless they were clearly muslim, mormon or some other teetotal religious group, a bottle of wine would work. Maybe take some nice-looking chocolates as well.

Really, though, they're likely to appreciate the gesture more than the monetary value of the gift itself

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Frogbitch45776@reddit

Never alcohol! There’s a huge amount of reasons other than religion that people choose not to drink alcohol. Worst case, you’re giving a recovering alcoholic a bottle of wine

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

Ffs, you are forcing it into their throat. They also encounter wine at the supermarket. If they politely decline to take it that's fine and should be accepted without offence, but you can't spend your life tiptoeing around a problem that someone else likely doesn't have. Most people will either decline, bin or regift if not something that they would use.

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Frogbitch45776@reddit

Have you spent much time around alcoholics? Because I have. There are levels to recovery and levels to what an alcoholic is able to expose themselves to. At first, many avoid the alcohol aisle because the temptation is too high. They avoid pubs and social situations where there is temptations. Having alcohol in the privacy of their own home can be too difficult for many because now it’s in private and there’s no one except themselves to tell them ‘no’. It’s not tiptoeing around people, it’s being aware and deciding not to put someone in a potentially difficult situation

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

The overwhelming majority of people are not alcoholics.

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Frogbitch45776@reddit

I’m aware and if you read my comment I also said there’s MANY reasons other than religion that people don’t drink alcohol, with alcoholism being the worst case scenario

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

Yes and in most cases if someone doesnt drink they will politely decline or regift.

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Watchkeys@reddit

I wouldn't buy wine for a stranger. Lots of people don't drink, and even of those who do, many don't drink wine. And even of those who do, lots of people only like one colour. It's very easy to get it wrong on a variety of levels!

Flowers, OP. I've never heard anybody say that they got flowers, but they 'weren't the ones they like'.

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Allyredhen79@reddit

I’d take a quick tour of the aldi middle aisle first, because you sometimes strike gold, and have the flowers & chocs as a solid plan b!

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Upbeat_Branch_4231@reddit

Flowers. Most Co-Ops, even the small ones sell bunches of flowers.

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morbidcuriosity123@reddit

Biscuits.. a nice packet of biscuits for them.

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Away-Ad4393@reddit

Or a tin of biscuit/ shortbread

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skrew86@reddit

Flowers would be great. It's the thought that counts.

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Esexboy101101@reddit

Order some Flowers/Chocs from M&S Online

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ld4484@reddit

Bear in mind if you went with flowers, they maybe have pets so some flowers will be toxic to cats/dogs etc. As others have mentioned, alcohol isn’t a great idea for numerous reasons eggs can’t drink due to medication.

Any clues from their house/ garden that may guide you? Gardening bits could be good. Aldi have some gardening special buys in at the moment.

A thank you card may mean more than anything to them. Also is there a local facebook group where you can give a public thanks? We often have them types of posts on ours, and the helper actually turns up in the comments. You can then look up their profile to get more info about them :)

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purrcthrowa@reddit

FWIW the posh stuff at Aldi is great, and personally I'd be chuffed to get a box of Aldi "Specially Selected" choccies.

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Stefgrep66@reddit

Bottle of wine usually goes down well.

The organic Pinot Grigio in the brown bottle is very drinkable at about 6 quid a bottle.

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Etheria_system@reddit

Never do alcohol for people you don’t know. It could be the thing that causes an alcoholic to relapse. Chocolate and flowers are much safer (because even if you have allergies like I do, there isn’t the same level of psychological issue in having them in the house)

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PleasantCucumber2615@reddit

I'm sure any gesture would be appreciated including a thank you card. It's the thought and appreciation that counts.

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Etheria_system@reddit

Flowers and chocolates are fine. I have allergies to a lot of things and I’m still so grateful when people give me gifts even if I can’t have them because it’s the thought that counts.

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Old_Nail6925@reddit

A decent bottle of wine is a good shout unless they don’t drink of course

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spoo4brains@reddit

No, in case they are recovering alcoholic.

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Essex-girl-1@reddit

Box of biscuits, flowers, box of chocolates,

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AClockworkLaurenge@reddit

If you are going to get flowers, try to get ones that are pet-safe just in case, as some flowers are really toxic to cats and dogs! AVOID lillies like the plague because they're super poisonous for pets to be around. Also daffodils, carnations, chrysanthemum and tulips can be toxic if eaten (and cats love to nibble plants).

Some pet safe flowers include roses, sunflowers, gerberas or germini or orchids. (I usually go for roses or sunflowers if I'm playing it safe)

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Ok-Rain6295@reddit

Chocolates or flowers are a good shout. Personally, I don’t think it’s the best idea to buy alcohol for someone you don’t know (you have no idea if they’re a recovering alcoholic, for example)

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Aggressive-Waltz1126@reddit

Chocolate may be off the table too. Dietary restrictions.

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Grezmo@reddit

Don't mean to be argumentative but you could pick holes in a gift choice for a stranger for almost anything. I get alcohol might be problematic but if you have a dietary restriction to chocolate you would still surely appreciate the intent? Not sure if the saying "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good" entirely fits but it feels that way - don't hold back on a well intentioned thank you for fear that you haven't picked the most perfectly individually tailored gift!

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InkedDoll1@reddit

I'm vegan and my patients often buy me chocolate/biscuits etc that I can't eat and yes, i always still appreciate the intention.

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Aggressive-Waltz1126@reddit

True. As someone with a couple of allergies I get a lot of useless gifts and it does get tiresome. I'm obviously projecting.

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Big_Somewhere_620@reddit

I'd say chocs (like roses or something) is always a nice gift but some people don't like chocolate or sweets or have allergies. Would a gift vouchers be rude or impersonal? I'm thinking that way they can use it on what they like or even be able to add it to their shopping bill as food prices are rising,

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Spudspecs@reddit

No, I think flowers and chocolates are perfect! Don’t think you’re expected to know or assume their vase or dietary requirements, and even if I was a vegan full of hayfever, I’d still be absolutely chuffed at the gesture anyway. It’s a lovely thing to do- don’t overthink it.

Glad you’re ok after your tumble, too- make sure you take it easy for the next few days (maybe treat yourself to some flowers and chocolate, too!).

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donkey-oh-tea@reddit

"Even if i was vegan full of hayfever" made me snort like a vegan full of hayfever

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InkedDoll1@reddit

That's exactly what I am and I'd still be appreciative. In fact my patients often give me chocs/biscuits etc that I can't eat but I'm still so grateful (as is my non vegan husband, who gets to eat it all)

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Unhappy-Common@reddit

This

I gave something away for free on marketplace once and they bought me some after eights as a thank you and I was so pleased 😊

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Polythene_pams_bag@reddit

100% agree with flowers and chocolate! Glad ur ok OP

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ParisLondon56@reddit

Flowers bring a smile to most people. Hope you're ok.

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4x6x8@reddit

Mig welding mask from Aldi middle aisle.

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ben_jamin_h@reddit

Get her a 4-in-1 flavour changing Vape, can of Monster and a copy of What Car magazine. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy that.

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NoPair4650@reddit

Co op usually has really nice flowers

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Free_Ad7415@reddit

Flowers and chocolate would be wonderful!

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StereotypicallBarbie@reddit

Chocolates flowers or wine… also do some nice little bunches of flowers to be fair.

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New_Book131@reddit

Flowers and/or chocolates would be a perfect gift!

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MiddleAgedDread123@reddit

Aldi flowers are usually excellent quality, they last really well in my experience.

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sick_bitch_87@reddit

I got some for my aunts birthday in November, they were still good im January.

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Chris_Willman@reddit

TBH they both do some decent pot plants at times, feels a little more interesting than flowers perhaps

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Effective-Bar-6761@reddit

Personally, I’d opt for flowers over a pot plant. Pot plants from supermarkets will likely die, just like the flowers will - but the death of a plant feels like a judgment ( and leaves you with more stuff to get rid of ) whilst dead flowers feel like a natural passing.

Obviously , plants are fine if you know the recipient will enjoy minding it.

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Ralucahippie@reddit

Aldi has good chocolates!

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dragongirl_3@reddit

Flowers/chocolate or both. I wouldn't buy alcohol just because I don't drink

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Poo_Poo_La_Foo@reddit

☝🏼this - i was sent a crate of wine as a thank you from a business once, while I was T-total. Chocolate and flowers would be lovely.

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UnIntelligent-Idea@reddit

I won a hamper of drinks at Christmas (yay!). Whilst lovely, 80% of it was bottles of drink I wouldn't drink.

Alcohol has so many options, whereas chocolate you can get a selection box and be fine.

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bebi4@reddit

My mind went straight to donuts😅 Flowers & chocolates are great! I'm sure they'll appreciate anything to be honest

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D5LLD@reddit

Co-op has some really nice flowers at times, that's were I normally her my mum's Mothers Day flowers :)

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Ethel-The-Aardvark@reddit

Flowers would be perfect. And don't worry about them not having a vase, I have loads of vases but often put flowers into a jug as it looks pretty!

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Sweetie-07@reddit

Flowers and chocolates sound lovely, wherever they're from - it's a lovely "thankyou gesture" and I'm sure they'll really appreciate it - I would! By the way, Aldi's flowers are lovely, they last much longer than flowers from Asda, etc, in my experience! Hope you're ok after your fall! 🤗❤️

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