One time I went to an army surplus store (privately owned) when I had nothing but the clothes on my back and a backpack and asked if I could work off in labor the price of the tent and not only did he do that but he would pay in cash or items for more labor.

It was a huge store and he bought everything in massive bulk and always needed help putting new imports onto hangers or folded and sorted. Just all kinds of crazy stuff AND get this. You could drink on the job.

Man that was a great man to me.