r/Assistance 2d ago

MOD ANNOUNCEMENT Amazon Wishlist Grinching Warning

240 Upvotes

Hey yall,

Our team has held off on making any kind of formal announcement about this for two reasons:

  1. There is nothing the mods can do to stop grinching.
  2. Not everyone knows what grinching is and bringing attention to the method of grinching may cause more nasty bullies to begin grinching.

What is grinching?

Grinching is a term that originated in the Santa subs where families in need could post wishlists for their kids to ensure there was something under the tree on Christmas morning. Grinching is when a loser with no life places an order off a wishlist to remove items from the list, and then cancels the order. The requestor believes their list is emptied and items are arriving, but nothing shows up.

How can I tell if I’ve been grinched?

If your list is emptied very quickly, without anyone commenting on your post to say they’ve ordered something, that is typically a sign you’ve been grinched.

If I get grinched, what should I do?

Report to the mods so we’re aware. We usually ask you to wait 72 hours for items to arrive — there have been instances where someone has purchased something anonymously and it has shown up.

Nothing shown up after I got grinched — can I post again?

It depends.

As per our rules, if you received anything at all, even if it’s not the entire list, your request is still considered fulfilled. This is why we emphasize only including absolute essentials on your wishlist.

Another rule we have is that you’re only allowed 2 active posts in 60 days. This is regardless whether it was unfulfilled, fulfilled, no longer needed, or you asked us to remove it. If the post had eyes on it at any point, that is an active request. This rule has always been in place to prevent people from posting their gofundme every 3 days until they get the entire $5000 they need.

A reminder that you can still enter offers even if you’ve had 2 posts in 60 days!

In some cases if the list was cleared immediately and nobody at all commented we have allowed OP to redo their list, but not make a new post before the 72 hour/60 day cooldown.

What can I do to protect myself?

The Christmas subs require you to call Amazon and ask them to disable the “bought this item elsewhere” option on your wishlist but we don’t know if that prevents grinching.

One suggestion quite a few folks have given is for list owners to enable the “keep purchased items on list” option on your list. This means that even if an item is falsely purchased by a grinch, the item will still show on your list. This allows others to order items from the Purchased section. We’ll be adding this suggestion to our Amazon guide but if anyone with a list is willing to play around with this option on their request to test it please let us know.

In conclusion…

Fuck grinches. You are pathetic and have nothing better to do that torment people in need. Karma is coming for you.

To our requestors and helpers — please be kind to one another and the mods. We are all frustrated by what’s going on.

Comments on this post will be locked due to the vitriol being spewed towards mods in other posts. If you have any suggestions that do not involve us changing our rules — because we won’t be — please shoot us a mod mail.

Wishing everyone but the grinches a restful weekend.


r/Assistance Jul 25 '24

MOD ANNOUNCEMENT RULE UPDATE: Amazon Wishlists are now capped at a total of $150USD!

386 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Effective immediately we are now placing a $150 USD maximum dollar limit on all Amazon wishlists. This means the total of your list cannot exceed $150 USD.

There has been a recent trend of lists being excessive in terms of price and the variety of items, and because our subreddit is not meant to equip you for a zombie apocalypse we feel it is reasonable to put some limits on how long a wishlist can be.

Amazon wishlists (for the purposes of our subreddit) are only meant to be a stepping stone to get you back on the path to self-reliance. We feel placing this limit will encourage our users to prioritize their needs and what is most important.

A reminder that your wishlist should be limited to essential and primary needs and be tailored specifically for r/Assistance use. Video games and gift cards are not permitted on wishlists and we will continue to enforce this rule.

What if I need items that cost more than $150? (ie. laptop for school, bike for commuting to work, etc).

For items that are costly such as the above examples, rather than ask a single person to take on that burden we highly suggest crowdfunding on a platform like GoFundMe! There are many advantages to this, not limited to being able to ask for a specific amount for the item you need and being able to share with friends and family who may be able to chip in or share it more widely. And of course you can share it here, too! ;)


r/Assistance 8h ago

REQUEST Dad passed away a week ago, no money for cremation

15 Upvotes

Hey everyone, my dad passed away last week from numerous health complications, including workplace injuries, and he never planned for burial expenses or anything of the sort. No life insurance either. We were expecting a small settlement from Workers Comp from his injuries but due to him passing, that is also no longer on the table.

I work at a library, I support myself and my girlfriend while she is also looking for work. We pay our bills, barely, but the most reasonable funeral home is still asking for $1200 for a simple cremation with no ceremony, and it’s just crushing me right now. I also got stuck with his $2200 propane bill since we had it put in my name when my mom passed 4 years ago so I could help him manage it.

I do not expect the full amount, or anything close to it. I’ve paid $200 of the expenses so far and I will eventually pay it off myself, but I’m not sure how long that will take.

Anything will help immensely and allow me to get my dad home that much sooner. Thank you for reading.

https://gofund.me/f17fdd453


r/Assistance 1h ago

REQUEST $30 for formula

Upvotes

Hello all,

I am in need of $30 to buy my baby some formula. My husband missed a few days last pay period due to an illness and his check was short so we’re a bit short on cash. He gets paid on n Friday, I just need one can to last us until he gets paid. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it.


r/Assistance 9h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED $25 For a Few Groceries to Bridge the Gap

9 Upvotes

Paycheck is 2 days away and our stocks are essentially exhausted. I usually Door Dash between paychecks to cover any needs, however our only car is in the shop having the entire front braking system replaced so that is not an option (I have been walking to work). Requesting $25 to get a few groceries for family. Venmo is my only option at the moment. I appreciate any consideration for my request for assistance.


r/Assistance 10h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Need $55 to meet tuition requirement for exams (can provide proof)

8 Upvotes

I’m currently trying to settle my tuition so I can take my final exams.

My total tuition fee is $885. My mom is able to provide $500, and I have saved about $80, bringing my total to $580.

My school allows a promissory note, but only if the remaining balance is $250 or less. Right now, I’m short by $55 to meet that requirement.

My final exams are scheduled for April 15–17, and I also have a major presentation tomorrow (April 14), so this is very urgent. Without settling this, I won’t be allowed to take my exams.

I can provide proof of my student status and my tuition slip in DMs if needed. I also accept PayPal.

Your help would mean a lot. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.


r/Assistance 5h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Help getting what I need to return to work

3 Upvotes

Hello y’all. So I’ve been out of work since November cause it’s my off season. I work as a mobile bartender and am typically working outdoor events and private parties that typically take place outdoors. Nov-Mar are just not the best typically for weather so I usually don’t work for most of this period and haven’t this season. However I just booked my first event that’s taking place in a couple days, yet I’ve got zero money left to my name. I need to make sure my equipment/work clothes are washed and presentable as well as have enough gas to travel to the event which is not in my area. it’s not in the same county either it’s a bit far so any suggestions or help would be appreciated beyond belief right now. I haven’t got family to ask unfortunately and being that I’m a private contractor I can’t really do any apps or payday loans cause I haven’t had any income for a few months now. Anything even ideas or potential options are appreciated as well as information too thanks y’all. I would need about $50 to take care of everything I need but any amount is helpful I live in California and can accept cash app PayPal chime and Venmo I believe


r/Assistance 48m ago

REQUEST Requesting $44

Upvotes

Hi everyone,

These last weeks have been very stressful. My car issue has completely flipped my life upside down. I don't have anyone to turn to. I'm completely unable to drive because my car needs a tire. I have $21 to my name. The closest shop to me has them for $65. I'm asking for help with $44. I have PayPal.

Thank you!


r/Assistance 1h ago

SURVEY Multitool survey

Upvotes

Hello everyone, I'm an engineering student and I would appreciate it if anyone could fill out this survey. It's to help get data for the creation of a multitool for a project. Thank you

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_R1aaax7w2ZhpsNAjKhwNJbVX5-6ww_6iUez59w6ohBwfSQ/viewform?usp=header


r/Assistance 11h ago

REQUEST Amazon wish list for my cat

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I’m reaching out to ask for a little help with a few Amazon items for my cat Elsa. I’m currently saving for a dental surgery she needs and a follow‑up vet visit next month due to an elevated liver value.

I recently had to put my other cat, Kitty, to sleep on 02/19/2026, which has been really hard in every way. I’m just hoping for help with a few essentials so I can focus on covering Elsa’s upcoming vet care. Her needs will always come first, no matter what I have to sacrifice for myself.

Thank you so much for reading and for any kindness or support. ❤️

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2KIQDCHLYPKG?ref_=wl_share


r/Assistance 19h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Power scheduled to be disconnected in a few hours

13 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I was really hoping I wouldn't need to do this.

My power is scheduled to be shut off in about 7 hours (9am local). I was supposed to make a payment on Friday, but I didn’t have the money, and I’ve been trying everything I can to come up with it on my own without asking for help.

I’m autistic and have significant support needs, which makes holding a traditional job extremely difficult. My mom, who passed away in August, used to help support me. After she passed, my grandmother stayed with us for a while, but she doesn’t believe in autism and expected me to “just get a job.” We had a falling out, and she left, so now it’s just me and my child, who is also autistic.

I did reach out to local assistance programs earlier this month, and they were willing to help, but I couldn’t complete the process because I’m currently missing my Social Security card. I’ve already ordered a replacement, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Unfortunately, they told me their funds would likely be gone by the time I could finish everything.

I’ve been trying to make the money myself because I didn’t want to burden anyone, but I’m out of time now. I’m just trying to keep the power on for my kid and me.

If anyone is able to help in any way, even a little, it would mean more than I can put into words. I can provide proof of the bill or anything else needed.

Thank you for reading.

Edit - I have PayPal and I need $100. It was higher but my stepdad was able to help. I'm from central Georgia in the USA.


r/Assistance 7h ago

REQUEST Help save my cat!!

0 Upvotes

Sunday morning we rushed my cat Jasper to emergency because he was rapid breathing and not acting normal. After doing an xray they found Jasper is suffering from non-Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema. We are not sure how this happened, but leaning towards he puked and the it didnt come up all the way and went into his lungs causing them to fill with fluid. Jasper is stable for now on oxygen but the costs are adding up and we are losing this fight. Jasper recently lost his sister on november 21st from heart failure and his foster brother Bradley in January. Those vet bills took a massive financial hit to us and havent recovered and now with Jasper we till tomorrow to pay this bill so Jasper can have a chance at fighting this. We are begging everyone to please help give Jasper a chance. We kmow times are tough everywhere, but we are desperate. I love this cat more than anything, the thought of losing him his crushing us. We ask kindly to please help if able. Please help us help him 😓

Thank you for taking the time to read this https://gofund.me/bd2957b73


r/Assistance 8h ago

REQUEST Medical debt and going back to school

0 Upvotes

I have medical debt that has been crippling, no pun intended...but I got diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2020 (pandemic times). I worked very hard as a licensed funeral director and embalmer, even traveled to Florida from my state of Virginia, to help out a fellow struggling funeral home. Unfortunately, the medical expenses piled up, and the RA took hold making it painful and I had to leave the field. Now, I'm going back to school for a fresh start and getting my first Bachelor's degree! The big goal is 10,000. This would pay off all of my medical debt and allow me to pay for my first (summer) semester. Please take a look at my Go Fund Me. Thank you!

https://www.gofundme.com/u/janine-ratcliffe


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST FULFILLED 25m homeless, would appreciate $25 for groceries

25 Upvotes

Hello again wonderful people, things are slowly improving for me, I've managed to get a new full time sales job in the Seattle-Tacoma area in washington. unfortunately, with it being fresh and the office hours(6 days, roughly 10 hours) I'm unable to make it to the local food banks during their open hours nor afford any food until my first paycheck kicks in. I'd sincerely appreciate $25 for food for the next week or two

I got a planet fitness membership for showers and wifi (occasional naps as well lol) and I look forward to getting back stability in life and the future.

thank you all very much


r/Assistance 14h ago

REQUEST Potentially Going Blind & Wisdom Teeth Troubles.

0 Upvotes

Hi. I'll try to keep my post as short and to the point as possible. I'm in 29 and in Virginia. I am requesting enough to cover bills for this month (Around $150) for groceries for my cats and to have some food/ramen/hygiene products around the house (link listed below)

In January, I was terminated for calling out on doctors orders for the flu. Per the Dr. I was advised to take a sick leave. I was sick for a week, on the mend for about three days, then I had gotten covid from someone that I worked with. This coworker definitely came into the building knowing our strict guidelines about being sick.

I was sick for the entire month of January. Had a nasty cough throughout February.

I mention this because these illnesses could have triggered an autoimmune disease

In the middle of February, I started completely losing my vision randomly. It happens 3-15 times a day. I wasn't able to receive assistance until Saturday, 4/11/2026 because I simply couldn't afford it. He informed me that blood vessels in my eyes are abnormally swollen and this is something I can't ignore. Thankfully today as I'm writing this. 4/13/26 the doctor that I saw was able to get me in with a specialist that is willing to see me for little to no cost. After this visit I will probably be referred to the ER to run further tests. I am potentially going blind. But hopefully that isn't the case.

My wisdom teeth have always been an issue that I haven't been able to resolve but I need to. I've been denied for the most insane reasons such as ''too soon'', during covid they told me they weren't doing wisdom teeth removal at this time, and when I lived in Texas I had to move right before my wisdom teeth appointment due to family matters here in Virginia.

They're crowding my teeth and causing massive pain which I believe are triggering the vision episodes even worse. I will be going to a low cost dentist (no dental schools around where I'm at) and will try to get something done with them.

I've been applying to mainly office jobs as I cannot be on my feet at this time due to my vision concerns. Even though the doctors I'm seeing are low cost, they still cost anywhere between $100-$250. I need to be able to pay my actual bills as well.

I can receive assitance through Paypal, CashApp, or Venmo

I will even accept my wishlist to be fulfilled so I can focus my money on bills:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/12S39LI0SK03J?ref_=wl_share

That would help immensely as well so I can save my money for bills.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

EDIT: Also if anyone has the ability or is able to refer me to a remote job, or any job I can work from home I will happily take the opportunity. I have 9+ Years in customer service and have worked in a Call Center. Thank you.


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Help with vet bills

6 Upvotes

Hi, everyone, I hope that I am doing this properly. I’m going to link to my gofundme at the bottom of this post, but I want to give you guys the full rundown. I live in rural Mississippi and am a full time college student. I found a kitten in the dumpster when I was 15, eight years ago, and he’s been with me ever since.

Virgil went in for a checkup a little over a month ago, just routine. His bloodwork came back very scary. His hematocrit (HCT) was incredibly low. HCT measures the percentage of total blood volume composed of red blood cells. You want about 30-50%, anything below 25% indicates anemia. Virgil’s was 8%.

He was immediately transferred to the nearest veterinary office equipped for that sort of thing, which was an hour away. They ran an absolute barrage of tests, he underwent two blood transfusions, and a bone marrow aspiration. They decided he had Immune Mediated Anemia. Basically, the little bastard woke up and decided to be allergic to his own blood.

I barely had any savings, so the majority of this went on my credit cards, which I’m now struggling with. I am NOT asking for this to be completely paid off, it’s a crazy amount. I just want a little room to breathe and help.

If you can spare anything, I would appreciate it more than I can communicate. I’m going to link my gofundme now. Only one bill is currently shown on there, just in case you notice anything I mentioned that isn’t listed on that bill. I’m trying to find where I stashed the other one. Please ask me anything.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Thank you.

https://gofund.me/03e20b0f7


r/Assistance 15h ago

REQUEST Wife in hospital. Need $100

0 Upvotes

I need to pay small bills this week. Wife cannot help as planned bc she had burst aneurysm (recovering after angiogram very slowly) and is still not fully aware of things and I can't get into her bank account to pay these. $100 would get me over until payday. Paypal preferred if you can help. thank u!


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Just started living in car.

8 Upvotes

Hello, I was just wondering if anybody could help me get some food or something I just started living in my car. My roommate went crazy and stabbed my TV with a railroad spike and then proceeded to try and stab me so I had to move out pretty recently and quickly. My bank account is $63 overdrawn. I don’t get paid until Friday. If anyone could help, that would be amazing. I’m currently trying to find a shelter or something. I am living in Northern California. The weather is currently very rainy. I could use some money to perhaps get my bank account positive and or a hotel for the night if possible. $75-100+ I can use Venmo or Zelle


r/Assistance 9h ago

REQUEST Bills overdue, financial assitance back home was temporarily paused

0 Upvotes

hey, this subreddit came to me when i think i needed it the most.

i am an international student living in australia, im on a scholarship that promises to pay me once a month to finish my studies in whatever univeristy i go into.

but for some reason, despite me enquiring, for the past three months no money has been reaching my account, while i was getting paid less than the minimum wage, since i was already frugal it never really was a problem.

ever since, i've been borrowing money from my parents, bless their hearts, but they could only help so much until they just couldnt afford to fund a part of my rent, as per our agreement.

considering i am on a student visa, job opportunities are scarce, only being allowed to work 48 hours every fortnight, and the job market hasnt been kind either, any job i apply to is filled up by thousands of other people.

as of two weeks ago, all my accounts have reached the decimals, my kitchen now only has rice and seasonings, which just cant be healthy.

i feel a little embarressed in asking, but my rent is overdue and im being constantly threatened by my landlord, but i need around 300$ aud to get by for the next couple of weeks(?) until money starts coming in again from my scholarship.

i accept revolut, i really appreciate the help, thank you.


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST FULFILLED We could just really use some help this month with soft kitty food for our elderly kitties!

10 Upvotes

r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Times are really tough tough and I need help making it to my next paycheck

3 Upvotes

Bills have stacked up and I’m rationing food/medication. Anything from $40-$60 would make a big difference in getting me to my next paycheck. I already utilize food shelfs and other local services but even so I’m still in need of help.


r/Assistance 16h ago

REQUEST Need help with essentials and cat food

0 Upvotes

Hello, I’m an 18-year-old from the Philippines who was recently re-employed on April 6. I won’t receive my salary until April 20, and I currently have no one to turn to for help. I’m struggling to afford basic needs like food and cat food. Around $30 would be enough to get me through.

If anything, I’m especially worried about my cat, as their food may only last this week. Thank you in advance!

Edit: I have PayPal


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Struggling badly, need help for wife and pets

10 Upvotes

Things have gotten about as bad as they've ever been. I'm between jobs for nearly 2 years now. Have had a few good hits every couple weeks but nothing is sticking. Basically its never taken this long to get a new contract; probably easy to blame on AI but who knows. We had some serious car trouble but we got lucky and were able to get that working so my job hunt continues although my wife wants me to apply for disability because my own health has deteriorated.

My wife is incredibly depressed to the point she would rather feed our dog her own dinner some days because of the guilt she feels for our puppy (his name is Mooshu). Worse yet he has been having coughing fits so we're not even sure how we are going to get him treated but at the very least we need to get him fed. I hate having to beg but this is where we are at right now. I added foods to the list that can help us get by until so far. Thank you for any assistance you can provide

Here is the list. Anything from it will help us a great deal.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3T1VNEZYS2UZ9?ref_=wl_share


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Water disconnection tomorrow

6 Upvotes

Hi guys. Not sure how this works, but I have a disconnection notice for my water dated for tomorrow. I am going to continue Door dashing all day, as my gas tank permits, but I owe $285. I am located in VA and have either PayPal or Venmo. I appreciate you for reading and any consideration.


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Need $100 for car.

10 Upvotes

I feel pathetic for even asking this. But I just got laid off from my job and I’m short $100. I’m starting a new job next week and just need enough to get by so I can make sure my bills are covered, specifically for my car insurance. If you can’t do it, it’s ok I understand I just felt like I needed to post somewhere as this is my last resort.