Suggestions for returning a favor
Many people know what they want, but are not sure what can they give in exchange. Here is a list of sample favors we can all give that might be useful to others:
HELP WITH MOVING FURNITURE
Assist with moving one large piece of furniture. This favor can include the offer of a pickup truck for the moving day or could be limited to helping to carry the piece of furniture to a desired destination.
ASSISTANT FOR A DAY
Everyone deserves an assistant! This favor requires personal assistant services for one day, to last no longer than eight (8) hours. (Don't forget to begin all requests with please and to end them with thank you!) Likely tasks to be disclosed beforehand.
PET SITTING
Offer up your home as a pet habitat during a short trip out of town, or offer drop-by services for daily feeding, games, and walks at the pet's own home. Any restrictions on breed, gender, and size should be listed in the favor swap. Pet's food, medication, toys, bedding, and any other special needs must be provided by the owner.
DOG WALKING
Walk a dog to the park. Collars, leads, and any special dog treats and toys should be provided by the owner at the time of pickup.
PAINTING A ROOM
Assist with painting a room or an apartment. This might include picking up paint, covering the floor and furniture, preparing materials, applying primary and main coats, doing a lunch run, etc. Cost of materials not included.
MAIL COLLECTION
Collect mail during out-of-town trips. Keep the mail safe and deliver it when the person is ready. (Of course this includes strictly controlling any urges to snoop!)
CLEAN/TIDY HOMES
Offer to clean a house (or a particularly needy room) for two hours. The favor should include agreement on the extent of the cleaning and disclosure of the original state of the place to be cleaned.
PARTY ASSISTANCE
Assist with throwing a house party. Services can include (but not be limited to) shopping, cooking, set-up, hosting, cleanup, and post-party dish washing. Bearing cost of purchases not included.
WATER PLANTS/LAWN
Water plants or the lawn during a short out-of-town trip or just because those plants are thirsty.
REVIEW/EDIT FORMAL EMAIL/LETTER
Offer to review and edit a formal letter or email. Provide feedback on the language and on the success of the intent of the letter.
COOKING DINNER
Cook one meal upon request and deliver to their place of residence. The menu and the type of cuisine can be negotiated. The chef is not obligated to pay for ingredients.
AIRPORT RIDE
Pickup or drop-off services to a local airport. Reasonable advance notification required.
AFTER HOUR HELP
It's not fun to work late alone! Offer a two-hour session of work-related assistance after 6 p.m. Required tasks should be negotiated beforehand. Reasonable advance notice required.
ONE HOUR GRUMBLE SESSION
Offer up your ear to one hour of unremitting complaining, during which no rational advice or commentary will be allowed. Topics of the session shall be of the complainer's choosing but cannot implicate the listener in any ways.COFFEE ,N SNACK OR LUNCH RUN
Hand deliver coffee and a snack or lunch, procured from a mutually agreed-upon café or lunch venue within a walking or reasonable driving distance from the deliverer's local. Cost of the purchase not included.
SHARE A SECRET IN COMPLETE CONFIDENTIALITY
Everyone has a secret and often it's accompanied by a nagging feeling that it must be shared! Offer to listen to someone's secret with the assurance of complete confidentiality. (Please note that ethically compromising or legally incriminating secrets are excluded from this favor swap.)
PUBLIC PRAISE
Praise someone in public. Giver of this favor commits to bringing authenticity to the praise and never divulging praise's origin. The nature, extent, timing, and audience can to be negotiated. Praise can be in person, on a respectable internet site, or any publication accessible to the giver.
RUMOR SPREADING
Assist in spreading a rumor. Nature and severity of rumor shall be negotiated but may not implicate giver in any illegal or ethically compromising activities. Giver shall never disclose rumor's true origin.
SWITCHING DAYS OFF
Exchange a day off with a co-worker. Requests may be rearranged in instances of scheduling conflicts and shall not put favor giver in employer's bad graces.
SYMPATHETIC EAR
Lend a sympathetic ear in support of a personal or professional problem. Listening session shall be limited to one hour, tissues included.
UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT
Offer your unconditional support. Situation and time period for the proffered support must be mutually agreed upon.
DESIGNATED DRIVER
This favor should only be exchanged with friends. Commit to five hours of alcohol-free chauffeuring. (Body carrying and/or holding of hair during purging is not included with in this favor and shall be treated as a separate favor.)
RUNNING AN ERRAND
Help with any reasonable errand. Duration of assistance is not to exceed one hour unless otherwise noted during the favor swap.
HONEST OPINION
Promise one honest opinion on an agreed-upon subject. To be restricted to the topic at hand only!
JUNK FOOD SESSION
Share in one guilt-free session of gastronomic gluttony, with the salty and/or sweet menu of choice. Acquisition and consumption of consumables is required, but payment is not included.
MOVIE EVENING
Accompany someone to a movie of their choice. Movie may be exhibited in a public theater or on a home audiovisual system. Film to be agreed upon beforehand. (Popcorn and snacks negotiable.)
PAMPERING SESSION
Join someone on a pampering or beauty session for two hours, to entail mutually agreed-upon activities.
PLUS-ONE AT AN EVENT
Graciously accompany someone to an event, and assist with smooth social navigation. This can include family gatherings, office parties, weddings, or other functions.
PROVISION OF AN EXCUSE
Concoct and collaborate on a reasonable excuse in a sensitive situation. Requests can be refused in instances of ethical compromise or criminal implication.
SHOW RENTAL UNITS TO POTENTIAL TENENTS
Offer to show a rental unit (apartment/shared room/house) to potential tenants. All scheduling and logistics to be negotiated.
LANGUAGE TUTORING
Know another language? Tutor someone for an hour on vocabulary and verb conjugation. Repeat sessions to be negotiated as separate favors. Training materials not included.
EXERCISE PARTNER
Help someone keep that gym commitment. Join someone for one workout session at the neighborhood gym or outdoor location of their choice. Gym access to be ensured by recipient of favor. Coaching to be considered a separate favor.
WASH THAT CAR
Is someone's car in desperate need of some loving attention? Offer to "pimp" their ride with soap, water, and elbow grease. Cleaning supplies to be supplied by car owner.