Five ways to show appreciation to neighbours

From collecting mail when you’re out of town to simply keeping an eye out for suspicious activity, neighbours can be a great resource. But how do you show how much you really appreciate them? Here are a few easy tips to do just that.

Reciprocate

This is an easy one — offer to return the favour. Don’t assume your next-door neighbour will feel comfortable asking you to water their plants because they did the same for you. Make the point clear upon returning home or the next time you run into them.

Entertain

Nothing shows appreciation and gets the lines of communication open like sitting down for a nice home-cooked meal. Invite the neighbours over for dinner to say thank you, and learn a little more about each other at the same time. Cooking not a forte? A fun board game night works as well.

Break a sweat

This is particularly helpful for elderly neighbours. With winter fast approaching, inquire whether you can salt and/or shovel their driveway while you’re out tending to your own after the white stuff hits.

Gift

Bringing back a small, meaningful souvenir from your travels is an excellent way to convey gratitude. Rather than buying a generic trinket, go for a locally produced bottle of wine or something along those lines.

Write

In today’s era of digital communication, good old-fashioned writing has become somewhat of a lost art. Put pen to paper and give your neighbour a thoughtful handwritten note.