Free Money

Let me preface my post with I did not include videos.  I am not comfortable with recoding people without their knowledge without them  knowing.  I have to tread lightly with things I do in the public eye due to who my boss is and it was not a gamble I was willing to take.

That being said, this was my experience.

I chose to do this over the course of a week while on my lunch break.   I work in downtown Orlando and walk around at lunch to run errands or go grab a bite to eat so I found this ideal.

I chose to approach people who carried a welcoming demeanor; I feel like this assignment required me to tread lightly as to not offend anyone.

Person 1:

Walking into Starbucks I ran into a women trying to get through the door with her baby in a stroller and struggling.   I started a conversation with her by letting her know that I remember those days of bringing my baby and tow and having to navigate the world around you.  I ordered my coffee and when I got my change, I turned around and handed her two dollars (I know it was one but two is what you need for a small coffee).  I said "here, let me buy you a coffee today, you deserve."  She smiled kindly and said that was not necessary, I said "I know, I want to."  She took my money, thanked me and I left.

Person 2:

Walking to Subway, I was walking the opposite direction of a homeless woman.  This was the most minimal conversation.  As I approached the woman, I pulled a dollar out of my pocket and held it out to her.  She looked at the money and then me.  I said, "I figure you could get yourself a donut for breakfast."  She said thank you and we literally both kept on walking with a stop or any further conversation.

Person 3:

Walking to meet my friend for drinks at the end of the work day and I passed a bike messenger who was hopping off his bike and walking it up some stairs.  I gave a small head nod, I actually did not plan to approach this guy but the opportunity presented itself when he asked where I was going looking so fancy, lol.  I told him where I was going and he said maybe he would meet up with me later; I told him maybe but that our location might change.  Since the conversation was going smooth, I pulled out the dollar and said here.  He asked what it was for and I said, in case we don't run into each other later, let me buy you a beer.  He actually joked and said a dollar would not get him a beer in downtown Orlando and to save my money as a tip for the bartender when he bought me a beer.  In the end, he did not take the dollar.

Person 4:

Person 4 came on the same day as the bike messenger except it was late in the evening.  My friends and I were walking to our next bar in a pub crawl that we were doing and there was a group of guys walking the opposite direction.  One of the guys approached a friend of mind to see if she was interested and the whole group started to get engaged in conversation. A couple feet from us was a guy playing the drums with some buckets so I told one of the guys, I would give them a dollar if they did an irish jig in front of the guy.  The guy took the dollar and he did the dance.  This was the most fun.

Person 5:

I was walking out of Chinese food restaurant and an older elderly man was taking a casual stroll down the road. As I passed the man, he said, smile a little it wont kill ya.  I turned around to look at him and I replied with "I could say the same for you."  He responded with touche.  I asked how his day was going and he said good, he was heading to church.  In that moment, I reached into my purse and handed him a dollar.  He said he didn't understand and I said, its for the church.  He smiled and said I was a good girl but for me to keep my dollar and he would put $5 in for both of us.  I said ok and we departed ways.

3 of the 5 people accepted my money.  The men had the hardest  time with it with the exception of a drunk guy. I can honestly say that the people that I thought would accept the money, did and those that I found questionable, did not.  This assignment was incredibly uncomfortable and difficult for me and I did not enjoy it at all.  I do not mind giving money, it is striking up conversations with random people and the risk of insulting people by giving them money that made it unbearable for me.