Recently I was looking for some volunteer help for a fun project and a person I knew seemed very motivated to try and help. It seemed like he was really going above and beyond and I commented on how I was in his debt now as a way of implying if he ever needed any help I would equally go above and beyond as well.
Now when I thought about it, usually what people do to pay back others in these cases is by using something of monetary value such as treating them to dinner. So that was actually my first reaction as you often feel it is necessary to compensate people back in some financial way to help warrant their time.
In the end, he told me to pay him back by making sure I attend this reunion event. Err….still feels like I owe something still.