How to give someone money anonymously

AlwaysAnyTime · 23-05-2014 12:26AM #1

Without going into too much detail, there's a person I know who is in desperate need of some cash at the moment but is way too proud to accept a handout from a friend or family member. I am by no means wealthy, have my own bills to pay but do have disposable income at the end of every month that this person needs a lot more than I do right now.

I don't know their bank details, and something like putting it through the letterbox might get me caught or be too obvious. I am completely out of ideas, good people of After Hours I summon you!

cloud493 · 23-05-2014 12:27AM

Buy them what they need instead of giving them money?

Mr. Incognito · 23-05-2014 12:28AM

Sell them a raffle tickets for your "work colleagues" fund raiser.

A week later they magically win

Sound of Silence · 23-05-2014 12:29AM

Take the wad of money, get a brick, place the money on the brick, wrap it up in tape, throw it through their window.

They will never know.

Sir Arthur Daley · 23-05-2014 12:31AM

Post it to them.

Chucken · 23-05-2014 12:33AM

Why do they need cash? Might be a better idea to have a weeks worth of food delivered by Tesco.
What happens next month? You can't keep doing that so maybe help them sort out something with M.A.B.S. That would help way better in the long run

Oh ya, pride comes before a fall.

kneemos · 23-05-2014 12:36AM

How much you give?

sock puppet · 23-05-2014 12:38AM

Play a game of Bamboozle.

lynski · 23-05-2014 12:38AM

SVP might be able to help, they could call on your behalf, and they can be discrete. they are good at getting fuel or other deliveries without anyone knowing.
I know this as the local organiser talked to me so i could pass the info on to the mother and toddler group.

Pawn · 23-05-2014 12:39AM

AlwaysAnyTime wrote: »

too proud to accept a handout from a friend or family member

Give it to me and I give it to them. I assure they will not refuse.

Jesus Wept · 23-05-2014 12:39AM

Look I'm not that proud, just send me a cheque

Toshi101 · 23-05-2014 12:39AM

Give it to me ill make sure he gets it honest!

hairyprincess · 23-05-2014 12:41AM

Put it through the letter box during the night.
Buy vouchers and post them.
Get a load of coal/oil delivered.

kneemos · 23-05-2014 12:43AM

The answer is in the question.

OU812 · 23-05-2014 12:44AM

Send it by courier. They won't know who it's from & you'll get a signature that it's been delivered.

You're a good person.

Alf. A. Male · 23-05-2014 12:45AM

Never mind their pride, tell them you'd love to help. If they refuse it, that's up to them.

Czarcasm · 23-05-2014 12:46AM

OP if you think they're too proud to ask for your help, the chances are they won't appreciate you trying to help them. Have you tried sitting down with this person and expressing your concerns to their face instead? That way at least you'll have given them an opportunity to open up to you instead of simply posting them a bank draft.

A couple of years ago alright I did something similar for my brother, I knew what bank he was in and went in and had a quick chat with one of the staff who set up a standing order to lodge the money in his account. My brother never knew and when he brought it up in conversation with me asking could someone do that, he told me he was afraid to spend the money as he wasn't sure was the bank making a mistake and might want the money back.

I had to tell him then where the money was coming from, and he was upset because he thought it was just weird. He didn't want charity as he saw it. My brother is fairly stubborn and independent and he said he would've appreciated it more if I'd asked him first rather than go behind his back.

This guy you know OP could react the very same way - never touch the money as he'd have no idea where it was coming from, but he might appreciate you approaching him instead and expressing your concern for his welfare.

DubVelo · 23-05-2014 12:49AM

What if you sneak him or her the money and they mistakenly presume it's from someone else, shower that person with gratitude, feel indebted to them for years, sleep with them, marry them, eventually name a hospital wing after them or whatever.
You'll be sick then won't you?

PCX · 23-05-2014 12:53AM

If they got the money totally anonymously they might be too worried to use it. i.e. who knows I have this cash -who might come looking for it back?

Better to offer to lend them the money they need. Tell them its not charity but there is no hurry in paying you back - you don't mind being last in line as you don't need it now.

Don't ask for the money back. If they're never in a position to pay you back then you effectively gave them the money.

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller · 23-05-2014 12:58AM

Do they drive?

If so, put some money in an envelope with a note that says:

Hello,

Very sorry about the damage to your car.

I was in a rush and couldn't help it.

His head will be wrecked as there will be no damage, but he'll still end up with the cash.

dee_mc · 23-05-2014 01:01AM

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller wrote: »

Do they drive?

If so, put some money in an envelope with a note that says:

His head will be wrecked as their will be no damage, but he'll still have the cash.

Yeah but again, they'll probably just get all paranoid and not use the money in case that it was somehow meant for someone else!
You could invent a Facebook competition in which you got to nominate a friend to share in a prize of a pile of vouchers, would that work?

SoulTrader · 23-05-2014 01:03AM

Send them an anonymous email claiming to be the beneficiary of a Prince in Nigeria's will. But you have a coke habit and have already wasted most of the $40m. The remaining hundred euro or so you would like to 'keep safe' in a trusted friend's bank account in Ireland. They send you their bank details and the job's done.:cool:

Kettleson · 23-05-2014 01:04AM

What a load of Eurovision block voting

blatantrereg · 23-05-2014 01:06AM

How would getting money anonymously be any less of a blow to their pride?

Reedsie · 23-05-2014 01:08AM

Just telling them is probably best. If you have to lie maybe tell them that you've won a bit of money and would love to share the good fortune.

Karl Stein · 23-05-2014 01:09AM

The best way for you to be anonymous about it is to not tell everyone on the internet about it you fantastic human being.

Call Me Jimmy · 23-05-2014 02:21AM

No need for deception in a friendship. Just tell him you want to help because you know he would do the same if the tables were turned. That's my barometer usually.

Or tell him it's a loan just with no fixed payback date. He can think of you as a loan-shark with no teeth.

Failing that it's his own problem, but if you try to do it anonymously he'll ****ing know