Guy Thinks Woman Dressed Like Money Will Pay For His Groceries, She Disappears Instead

Doing the right thing often seems easier in theory than it does in practice. It’s easy to imagine that you would help someone asking for a favor or for some assistance, but the reality is that if you aren’t careful or don’t set boundaries in time, some folks will just take advantage.

A woman shared her story of a beggar who tried to be picky after she was approached by a man who asked her to pay for his groceries. She agreed until she saw just how full his cart was. We reached out to the woman who shared the story via private message and will update the article when she gets back to us.

Paying for someone’s groceries is a simple, kind act

Woman shopping in grocery store holding fresh tomatoes while smiling and loading up her cart with produce

Image credits:  RossHelen/Envato (not the actual photo)

But one woman was surprised when a man loaded up his cart after she agreed to pay

Man asks a stranger to pay for his groceries while loading up a full cart in a busy supermarket aisle.

Man asks a stranger to pay for his groceries, then loads up his cart in a busy supermarket aisle.

Man asks a stranger to pay for his groceries at a store, then loads up his cart with items to buy.

Man asks stranger to pay for groceries, suspiciously well-groomed man leaves, then loads up his cart unexpectedly.

Man in glasses and casual shirt at grocery store with cart, representing man asking a stranger to pay for his groceries.

Image credits: sedrik2007/Envato (not the actual photo)

Man asks a stranger to pay for his groceries then loads up his cart with a large amount of items at the store.

Man asks a stranger to pay for groceries while loading up his cart with various items at the store checkout.

Image credits: Time-Caterpillar333

While there are always cases someone needs help, certain people are perfectly happy to exploit others

Image credits: Jeremias Ybañez/Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Some people feel comfortable taking advantage of others’ generosity because they see kindness as a resource to tap rather than a gift to honor. When someone offers to pay for another’s groceries or cover an unexpected expense, it creates a moment of vulnerability mixed with relief. To the giver, it’s a spontaneous act of goodwill. To the taker, especially those inclined toward opportunism, it can register as an open invitation to push boundaries. Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of details here about the man’s motives, but it does look like he thought it was his lucky day and decided to stock up on a lot of things.

So this ultimately begs the question of what his intentions were. As some commenters noted, there is a faint (or not so faint) hint of a scam here. Some scammers know that people do like doing the wrong thing and, similarly, struggle to say no in situations like this. Even if it wasn’t a scam, it does seem like he was in some way taking advantage of her generosity.

At the heart of this behavior is a sense of entitlement. If someone has willingly offered a favor once, the opportunist interprets it as a blanket permission for more. They rationalize that since their benefactor didn’t specify limits, they’re free to maximize the benefit, whether that means loading up the cart with extra items or extending a loan indefinitely. In their mind, generosity equals availability.

Some folks don’t have the reflex to say no or set a boundary in time

Image credits: JSB Co./Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Another factor is a lack of empathy or self-awareness. People who exploit generosity often focus on their immediate gain rather than the giver’s feelings or potential consequences. They see the act of giving as transactional rather than relational, failing to recognize that each favor chipped away at the giver’s goodwill. To them, asking for more seems natural, after all, their benefactor “has the means,” so why not?

Social cues also play a role. In many cultures, refusing a gift or offer can feel rude, so benefactors often acquiesce rather than draw a hard line. Opportunists exploit this discomfort with refusal, knowing that few people will publicly set boundaries in the moment, particularly with a stranger. It’s almost a nice thought that most people have a positive enough impression with folks that they won’t immediately see the red flags. Over time, repeat takers leave the generous party with a habit of pushing limits until someone finally says no.

Finally, there’s the thrill of risk. Stretching generosity to its breaking point can feel illicitly exciting, like finding a loophole in an unwritten social contract. Some derive satisfaction from seeing how far they can go before the generosity dries up, mistaking the giver’s initial openness for a challenge to be conquered. Imagine getting someone to actually pay for a cart full of groceries, it’s a little like winning some smaller amount at the lottery (once you subdue any feelings of shame).

In the end, taking advantage of generosity corrodes trust and depletes the very goodwill that once inspired the favor. Generous gestures work best when they’re appreciated and respected. When people honor limits instead of testing them, generosity remains a gift, one that uplifts both giver and receiver.

Readers were surprised at the man’s audacity

Screenshot of a Reddit thread discussing a man asking a stranger to pay for his groceries and loading his cart.

Man asking stranger to pay for groceries while loading up cart in a store setting with packed items.

Man asking stranger to pay for groceries in supermarket, then loading up his cart with items.

Comment discussing a man who asks a stranger to pay for his groceries, highlighting concerns of taking advantage.

Man asking stranger to pay for groceries while loading up a cart with multiple items in a store aisle.

Man asks a stranger to pay for his groceries while loading up a full cart in a grocery store aisle.

Comment thread discussing a man asking a stranger to pay for groceries then loading up his cart fully.

Man asks a stranger to pay for groceries while loading up a shopping cart with an overflowing amount of items.

User comment discussing the idea of paying for groceries on credit and its effectiveness in different societies.

Comment discussing a scam where a man asks a stranger to pay for groceries, then either returns or sells them.

Comment on forum thread, user RoyallyOakie replying with a short message saying Nope in response to a request.

Man asking stranger to pay for his groceries while loading up a shopping cart in a supermarket aisle.

Comment text discussing skepticism about pay it forward, related to a man asking a stranger to pay for groceries and loading his cart.

Comment about a man asking a stranger to pay for his groceries before loading up his cart in a store.

Comment discussing people asking strangers to pay for groceries at the store, related to man asking stranger to pay for groceries.

Comment on a discussion forum about paying it forward and cautioning against enabling scammers.

Comment about man asking stranger to pay for groceries and a woman with toddler causing a scene at Walmart.

Man asks stranger to pay for groceries while he loads his cart, highlighting struggles with feeding his family.

Man asking stranger to pay for groceries, then loading up his cart with essentials at the checkout in a store.

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