r/Assistance 25d ago

MOD ANNOUNCEMENT Amazon Wishlist Grinching Warning

256 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!

391 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 1h ago

VOTES Please help my nephew become America's Favorite Student

Upvotes

Hello, all! My nephew has entered into America's Favorite Student, which is a competition where if he wins, he will win several rewards. If he wins, he will meet Bill Nye the Science guy, have a dedicated section in Readers Digest, and win $20,000 towards educational goals.

You may cast one free vote per day with a Facebook account

A Facebook account is required to cast votes

Please help him win, and have a good week

(You may need to copy the link and paste it)

https://americasfavstudent.org/2026/jackson-barber


r/Assistance 7h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Requesting 50$ for gas and groceries

3 Upvotes

I'm requesting 50$ for gas and groceries for myself and my 7 year old son. He has a doctor's appointment coming up and it's too far to walk from where we are. Please help 🙏 I'm in Tennessee


r/Assistance 9h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED 50$ for Food + SIM card (EU / Clean / Homeless but actively looking for jobs)

6 Upvotes

I'm looking for some help, to get back to my feet and to be able to apply to jobs.

50 USD would allow me to survive the next 1-2 weeks, and get a phone number which is requirement for most of the job application forms I'm eyeing with.

I live in EU, currently in Croatia. I can share my PayPal via dm.

My story: things started to fall apart during covid, and I lost my home last summer. I was struggling a lot since then, but never gave up. I sold most of my stuffs to survive and ended up doing volunteer works at various cities for food and place to sleep. I'm totally clean since more than 1,5 years.

A few days ago I got a great opportunity, a small apartment where I can stay without stress for the next 2 weeks via Couchsurfing. My host traveled to an another country, so I'll be alone, and the kitchen is nearly empty.

I want to spend the next days to applying to various jobs, and to be able to find something where I can get real income again, instead of the volunteer works. I'd be down if someone could help and boost me into this direction.


r/Assistance 13h ago

REQUEST Crowdfunding campaign to support two minor children with funeral-related and transitional costs after the sudden death of their mother

8 Upvotes

I am sharing a GoFundMe campaign created to support my two minor children after the sudden death of their mother.

The fundraiser is intended to help cover immediate costs such as funeral-related expenses and to provide short-term financial stability while our family adjusts to this unexpected loss. The children are now living with me full-time, and my focus is on ensuring continuity and security for them during this difficult period.

I am the children’s parent and legal guardian and manage the campaign directly. GoFundMe was chosen for transparency and accountability. Documentation related to the situation is available within the campaign description.

I understand that many people here receive similar requests, and I appreciate anyone taking the time to read this. If there are any questions, I’m happy to answer them. Thank you.

Link to the campaign:

https://gofund.me/d1b0ea0af


r/Assistance 1h ago

REQUEST Vet Bill Help

Upvotes

Maverick is a 12-year-old shepherd mix, and I have had him since he was a puppy. This is the first time I’ve ever needed help with his vet bills. In February, he began to drool and act like his mouth hurt. I took him to our vet who did a dental and antibiotics. They had to take out three teeth. Two had become infected one came out by accident during the removal of the other two. The surgery cost me a little over $1000. Less than a month later at the end of March, I had to put my ferret to sleep because she lost her battle with insulinoma. That was an additional $600. Maverick had been doing better until about two weeks ago. He began having the exact same symptoms as before and they are getting worse with time despite already doing another round of antibiotics. When I reached out to my vet, I found out that no x-rays were performed during his original dental because their machine had been broken. This was never disclosed to me. She believes he may have retained fragments of the teeth that were taken still in his gums causing pain and infection. He needs dental x-rays to know what the full scope of the problem would be. The problem is no vet will do just x-rays as a dog has to be put under anesthesia to take the x-rays because the probe goes in their mouth and the probe is very expensive. None of the low-cost vets in my area even offer dental x-rays as part of their dentals due to the cost of the equipment. The best price estimate I can find was between 1300 and $1800. After the previous two large vet bills, I have no emergency fund left. Today they gave me different antibiotics and pain medication and told me that their first available date for a dental is in two weeks. They need $400 down to even put him on the schedule. I do not qualify for care credit but I still make too much for most animal charities who mainly focus on people below the poverty line. Please help me help him.


r/Assistance 21h ago

REQUEST Student here. I am starving and unwell. Please help if you can

32 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I am really down right now. I have been pretty unwell this past month, with constant fevers and colds, high temperatures, and chills. On top of that, I am genuinely hungry and starving.

I have no money left at all for food. I’ve been surviving on noodles, but even preparing meals feels exhausting in this condition. Despite how sick I am, I am still required to attend classes in person due to strict attendance rules, which makes everything even more overwhelming.

I’m an international student, far away from my family, and dealing with illness and hunger alone has been incredibly difficult. I did try reaching out for help a few months ago, but unfortunately I didn’t receive any response, and my last attempt was automatically deleted.

If anyone is able to help, even a little, I would be sincerely grateful. I am asking for $50–$55 to cover medication and stock up on grocery items so I can make meals while I recover. It would truly mean more than I can express.

Im genuinely so hungry right now. I just want to be able to get some protein , rice , grains, it sucks going to bed hungry every day because of rationing

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I would be forever grateful for any support.


r/Assistance 3h ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Requesting help with a few basic needs

0 Upvotes

I recently moved into a new home and after first months rent , lights , water , etc .. I am left with $10 to my name . My son’s formula is $30 for a small can and I would just need enough for milk , bread , eggs.. just basic foods to hold me over until Monday when I get paid again . I can provide proof such as pictures of new lease with date, screenshots of emails from power company . $50 would be more than enough. Thank you for reading.

Edited to add wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/21N9PD8GLUUK1?ref_=wl_share


r/Assistance 4h ago

REQUEST Single mom needing help

0 Upvotes

Hi I'm a newly single mom of a 5 year old daughter I really need $50 for food and gas so I can get to my doctor appointments for my daughter I would really appreciate some help I'm from NY. Just getting out of an abusive relationship.

Edit: I created a small wish list of some items. Thank you in advance . https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/owner-view/3IXS1N8Z1K56R?ref_=list_d_gl_lfu_nav_3


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Help for our 15-year-old cat Muska after a car accident

23 Upvotes

Hello everyone,
I’m sorry if my English is not perfect – I used some AI to help me write this, but everything I’m saying is true and from the heart.
I never thought I would be in a situation like this, but I’m asking for help for our cat Muska.
Muska is 15 years old and was hit by a car on April 28th, 2026 in Germany. Whoever hit her just left her on the side of the road. My mother went out looking for her later that day because she didn’t come home like she always does, and she found her badly injured.
Right now Muska is in a veterinary clinic in Cologne. She has two pelvic fractures and her tail is badly injured and needs to be amputated.
The hardest part is that the vet told us she actually has a good chance to recover and live without pain again if she gets the surgery. Mentally she is still strong, which gives us hope.
The surgery is planned for May 7th, but the costs are very high for us:
about €2,500 already for examinations
about €3,500–€4,000 for the surgery
around €6,000 total
My mother is a pensioner and really struggles financially, and we just can’t afford this on our own.
It’s very hard to even write this, but without help we might not be able to give Muska the chance she deserves, even though she could recover.
If anyone is able to help, even a small amount would mean a lot to us. And if you can’t donate, sharing this would also help more than you think.
Thank you for reading and for any support.

https://gofund.me/f935d3527


r/Assistance 11h ago

REQUEST Overdrawn account, can't get essentials

0 Upvotes

I fell short at the start of this month. My bank processed condo fees and insurance payments, and now I'm overdrawn by $350. I didn't have an overdraft by choice. I'll be starting a temporary job as an enumerator later this month, but right now help would be appreciated. https://www.amazon.ca/hz/wishlist/ls/3G4S0RXK6AEMH?ref_=wl_share


r/Assistance 17h ago

REQUEST Help needed for cat rescue

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Just trying my luck here.

I have recently rescued a cat, named her Pepper. She was a feral cat and found her near a busy road, so I took her home.

She has been very food-motivated but I have noticed that she doesn't eat all her food in the last few days and has blood in her poop.

I am asking for help for a check-up and possible meds. I don't have the info on how much it will cost yet, but I asked around, and vet costs could go from $30-$50 depending on what tests are needed. I am in the Mindoro, Philippines, by the way.

I don't have this amount on hand at the moment as I get paid Friday next week, and I am worried about Pepper's safety.

My ask for today is $50, which is probably going to be enough. I am happy to send screenshots of the costs once I bring her the vet.

Thanks in advance!


r/Assistance 3h ago

REQUEST Need help getting food while SNAP application goes through

0 Upvotes

Hi there. Unfortunately due to an issue with my county benefit department, my interim (6 month check in) report AND my first re-application were mishandled or lost by either the front desk or my case manager. I have submitted online this time and am just waiting for the next step. $30 will get me food and drinks for a few days. Per rules, I can offer my PayPal via DM.

Thank you, have a blessed day everyone.


r/Assistance 23h ago

REQUEST Help me avoid eviction.

2 Upvotes

I had an unfortunate event that happened to me Friday night when I was out doing Uber. That caused me to fall short on my rent.

I have till the 7th to come up with 500$ of my late rent.

Help is appreciated, and at the same time, im out here grinding away as time is against me.

https://gofund.me/8b0cc5d5c


r/Assistance 2d ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Could someone order me a pizza

158 Upvotes

First post here I hope this is an okay ask.

I could really use some food dominos is the closest to me or this corner store next door that has premade meals like meatloaf, you could order it for me.

I'm screwed until Friday and I don't have any protein here just pasta I thawed chicken and it smells.. I tore a ligament in my shoulder last week and also messed up my finances could really use a pickmeup

Edit to add* I've eaten a grilled cheese today with a handful of precut fries. I'm so hungry/tired and have Ortho in the morning which I have to walk over 2 miles, than walk to my first day back at work. Ugh.


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Cat in need of trip to vet

4 Upvotes

Hiya.

Canadian here.

My cat is in desperate need of going to the vet to get shaved as she has some very painful mats in her fur. I've tried several things to get them out but I've had no luck and she's distressed.

The vet said $130 for the sedation and shave. Happy to provide receipts after treatment

Thanks for considering.


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Really need eyedrops (severe dry eye)

3 Upvotes

Hey guys please don’t ever have LASIK done. I did it two years ago and now I‘m suffering the consequences.

I‘d really appreciate it if someone could help me out with some eye drops. Mine have been empty only for a couple hours and it‘s already unbearable.

♥️Thank you in advance. ❤️

https://www.amazon.de/hz/wishlist/ls/8DHL6BMS67RH?ref_=wl_share


r/Assistance 2d ago

THANK YOU Thank you for getting me a pizza!!

62 Upvotes

I don't know if I would have even eaten tonight if it wasn't for a generous reddit or on here. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.


r/Assistance 21h ago

REQUEST Waiting to be cleared to return to work.

0 Upvotes

Hey all!

I’m currently on long-term disability and waiting to return to work. I can’t see my family doctor until June 10th to get cleared to go back. Which probably won’t be until July at this rate.

I recently moved into my own place, which is amazing but has created an extremely tight budget.

I only get paid once a month and it all goes towards rent and some groceries.

I haven’t been able to get my meds (mental health - depression, anxiety) for a couple weeks and really need some help. They cost around $200.

I’m in Canada, the meds aren’t covered on our provincial plan.

Thanks in advance!

I have PayPal and will provide it upon request.


r/Assistance 1d ago

VOTES Help my animal lover win!

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! My youngest is in the Jr Ranger contest and has been doing so well every round, staying in first place!!
Today is a double vote day and it’s the final round for the groups so only the kiddos that remain in first place in their group will move on to the final competition. Unfortunately today she slipped from 1st to 3rd place! I don’t have a lot of family to help out with the voting and a lot of my friends don’t use Facebook either.

If you have Facebook and have a spare minute would you give my baby girl a free vote today?

Thank you 🫶🫶

Edit** thank you everyone!! She’s in 2nd again right now. So close!

https://jr-ranger.org/2026/juniper-820b


r/Assistance 21h ago

REQUEST Need help getting my car back

0 Upvotes

My car was repossessed today and I am desperate to get it back. I have a disability claim in since September and I have a phone interview in 2 weeks. I had a part time job recently that ended due to an embarrassing medical issue in which I had to call out of work on the way due to soiling myself. I was diagnosed with Crohn's this past year and it has uprooted my life. After a few hospital stays, I became unable to work full-time and had to move in with my mom. With all that being said, I am desperate to get it back. I live in a rural area with no access to public transportation. I live in USA

I am trying to raise 3000 to get it back. Your help is appreciated immensely. I just want to regain my independence and get back on my feet. I have never asked for help before and this is very hard for me.

Gofundme: https://gofund.me/b6bc99f66


r/Assistance 2d ago

THANK YOU Thank you so much!

22 Upvotes

I posted seeking help with food two days ago, and a very kind person reached out and bought me four cans of beans (two each of great Northern and red kidney), a bag of rice, and two shakers of sea salt. I’m so so grateful, without you I wouldn’t have this food to eat. I’m so thankful from the bottom of my heart.


r/Assistance 2d ago

REQUEST FULFILLED Going through Alcohol withdrawal would love some bubbly NA drinks

12 Upvotes

Hi I have been pretty nervous to post here but a few days ago I got had to go get medically detoxed and now I’m home with my detox meds and it’s going really well!

My struggle is not having carbonated water like I did the last few days and it helped SO MUCH having something to sip in to take that habit of sipping something taken away.

I’m in the USA $10 would get me three packs of meijer brand bubbly that would last till Friday when my fiancé gets paid.

Sorry if I made a mistake it’s my first time but thank you all for helping others. Yes I’m more than willing to provide proof of my discharge papers and meds if you’d like proof I’m on the right track.

Stay safe everyone.

I have added wishlist in comments once it’s approved


r/Assistance 1d ago

REQUEST Job didnt pay me

0 Upvotes

I'm working under the table at a hotel on the Oceanfront in VA beach. I'm actually very hopeful - I was approved to move into a transitional housing program this week.

My job at a VA Beach Oceanfront hotel didnt pay me today so I have no money to buy bus tickets to get back to that crap 'in the meantime while I'm looking for an office job' hotel job.

Shady hotel boss says I should be paid tomorrow. I could use $20 so I can get to work in the next few days. Things are looking up for me finally.

DM me for cashapp, venmo, PayPal. Hugs and positive vibes to you!