College girl immediately regrets offering to pay for a struggling stranger's groceries after they dash back into the store to gather more supplies: 'I am just a poor freshman who was just trying to do something nice'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 29, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

Nothing says, "Welcome to the world," quite like a college freshman realizing that strangers will usually take advantage of generosity. Not every person that you lend a helping hand is gracious enough to know when to stop taking, so when this young woman offered to pay for a stranger's groceries when her card declined, she was flummoxed when she audaciously ran back to grab a few more 'free' supplies. 

Well, when you're surviving on instant ramen noodles and late-night study sessions, every dollar counts. And even the most generous young person would struggle to loosen their fist around their cash stipends, but when you see a person in need in the world, perhaps society would benefit from a little more folks like u/PrancingKangaroo68.

Granted, it's a bitter pill to swallow about the realities of the world, but this generous young woman learned how her generosity might have just saved another desperate person's week. In one fell swoop, she learned to set her own boundaries while appreciating her advantages in the world—that's one lesson you'll miss in Humanities 101.

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  • "My brain just couldn't compute"
    via Bill Oxford

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I offered to pay for a stranger's items when their card declined and it all went downhill from there.
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • I was waiting in line at the grocery store waiting to check out and there was a woman in front of me with two young kids. When it was her turn to pay, her
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • card declined. The cashier tried it twice but it still declined and when she asked the woman if she had cash instead, the woman said that she didn't. She was
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • about to leave her things but as it was only one loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter, I offered to pay for them. She thanked me and then asked
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • if she could grab something else really quick, and I found myself nodding because I was caught off guard. She came back with a carton of eggs, women's sanitary
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • towels, milk and some toilet paper. By this point my brain just couldn't compute and I just smiled and proceeded to pay for everything and mine. She thanked me again and I told her
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • no worries then we went out separate ways. I am still trying to process what happened. It's not like she got luxuries, those were literally basic
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • Cheezburger Image 10498277376
    via Jevtic

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • necessities and if I was well off, I definitely wouldn't have bat an eye but I am just a poor college freshman who was just trying to do something nice with the little that I have.
    via PrancingKangaroo68
  • A... You did a nice thing and also learned about boundaries, probably for less than a therapist would charge you. Win win!
    via A
  • Next time just say "I'm close to having my card declined too, but I'll get these things for you if you like." (e: not suggesting lying but OP indicated they were struggling too so good opportunity to connect there if that's where you're at)
    via A
  • You're a good person, but also remember that if you help a drowning person they can drown you too. When conducting a rescue, ensure to take steps to protect yourself.
    via A
  • Put on your oxygen mask first before you help someone else, then help everyone you can.
    via A
  • Also she is clearly one notch away from homeless if she can't afford pads with bread and peanut butter. You probably saved her life for a week.
    via A
  • OceanUnclaimed - I did this offered to pay for a stranger's groceries when their card declined. Her items were already bagged and I hadn't seen what was in them. The employee
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • looked at me in a way I didn't understand, and the stranger was looking at me like she really needed what she had shopped for. Kind of like a desperate look? | paid for everything and it was less
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • than $100. When she picked up the bags, I heard the unmistakable sound of glass bottles tapping against each other. She walked away with 4 or 5 bottles of wine. The employee explained this
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • woman was there at least 3x a week trying to get more alcol. I felt awful. However! I went to this store fairly consistently and months later the
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • employee pulled me to the side. She told me the woman hadn't purchased any alcol since. Apparently she felt so ashamed for letting me pay for her habit
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • that it gave her the last little push she needed to try to get sober. I don't know how long it had been after that but I did see her one more time later on, and she looked fairly happy and just overall "better."
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • Sometimes acts of kindness get taken advantage of, and sometimes that blooms into something good.
    via OceanUnclaimed
  • thesyntaxofthings ⚫ Ok well next time you'll be prepared to say "No sorry, that's all I can afford right now" You did a nice thing and you learnt something. Don't turn it into a net negative. You probably really helped that woman out
    via thesyntaxofthings
  • Working Roof9832 I wouldn't dwell on it...you helped someone who needed help. That's all that really matters.
    via Working Roof9832

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groceries money problems generous payback money college entitled people
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