NBR: thank you gift for H's boss?

TheCuriousMom · May 2012

Short version. Hit financial hell, H's boss let us use their guest home while we would have otherwise been homeless. What kind of thank you gift?

Hello, this is my first post but I'll have to come back and intro myself later. I know this isn't board related but this is where I lurk most and 9-5 seems pretty empty. Long story short, after a sudden, expensive and stressful move across the country following 2 years of unemployment (me) and only 8 months of poor paying and long hours employment (H), we have completely exhausted all savings and have gone from 0 debt and owning 2 cars outright to about 15 thousand in debt, one vehicle, and we're currently homeless . H's new job (the reason for the move) pays well but we haven't been able to get 'ahead' enough for a deposit on an apartment.

Here is where it actually gets relevant.

We were in a cheap hotel when we got to the new city, just trying to figure out what to do about living arangements with no money and three weeks until H's first paycheck when h's new boss offered us to stay in his extra home for 3 weeks. Originally H thanked him but refused but he offered again and H accepted. Well it's been three weeks and today is our last day here. How can I possibly thank their family for their generosity? Also for clarification, this was an ETRA home of theirs on a separate property from the home they live in, we weren't sharing living space.

So, a thank you note and some kind of gift. A card? I have no idea what is appropriate. Thank you for any advice.

NaturalBlond · May 2012

NBR?

roxstarrgirl · May 2012

TheCuriousMom:
Short version. Hit financial hell, H's boss let us use their guest home while we would have otherwise been homeless. What kind of thank you gift?

Hello, this is my first post but I'll have to come back and intro myself later. I know this isn't board related but this is where I lurk most and 9-5 seems pretty empty. Long story short, after a sudden, expensive and stressful move across the country following 2 years of unemployment (me) and only 8 months of poor paying and long hours employment (H), we have completely exhausted all savings and have gone from 0 debt and owning 2 cars outright to about 15 thousand in debt, one vehicle, and we're currently homeless . H's new job (the reason for the move) pays well but we haven't been able to get 'ahead' enough for a deposit on an apartment.
Here is where it actually gets relevant.
We were in a cheap hotel when we got to the new city, just trying to figure out what to do about living arangements with no money and three weeks until H's first paycheck when h's new boss offered us to stay in his extra home for 3 weeks. Originally H thanked him but refused but he offered again and H accepted. Well it's been three weeks and today is our last day here. How can I possibly thank their family for their generosity? Also for clarification, this was an ETRA home of theirs on a separate property from the home they live in, we weren't sharing living space.
So, a thank you note and some kind of gift. A card? I have no idea what is appropriate. Thank you for any advice.

Im assuming they know you guys are in a tight financial situation? I think a card, with a sincere message inside from you guys would be best, and maybe a little box of Godiva chocolates or something small like that?

Samboni · May 2012

Spending money on a gift right now would be inappropriate since they were helping you due to financial problems. Like the pp said, give them a card with a hand-written message inside. In a month or two you should send a gift to show thanks. A gourmet food basket or something similar would be nice.