'Most precious 80 cents I've ever earned': Chef's jaw drops after honest mom drives to her home to repay her

James and Tasha Langi, the co-owners of FITT PREP (@fitt_prep), were perplexed seeing an old lady arrive on their doorstep with NZ$0.80. When James asked her about it, she said she had driven all the way to pay the money she was short on for a previous order. On August 7, 2025, the couple, quite overwhelmed with the honesty, took to Instagram to share the beautiful moment.

"Just gave me 80 cents, because she was short 80 cents yesterday," James informed Tasha, who just couldn't believe her eyes. They felt guilty that the elderly lady had to drive all the way only to settle her bill. Tasha took the money from James and ran straight to return it to the woman. "That's okay! "You didn't have to do that!" she reassured. However, the honest customer insisted she take the money since she came there only to honor the complete bill.

Tasha was clearly emotional, and the guilt was really killing her from within. She finally accepted the money since the customer was adamant about paying it, but assured her she doesn't have to do it the next time it happens. "Whoever's mom this is, please safeguard her heart," Tasha said. "Just having a quiet meal at home and then a little reminder for us as we grow that such a small amount can carry the most value," she added in the caption. 

In a survey conducted by QikServe, more than one in ten customers confessed to having left an eatery without paying the bill. Besides, the survey found that 90% of consumers had avoided leaving a tip at least once in their lives, and among them, 12% admitted to skipping out on paying a bill completely. Now, in a world where skipping bills isn't unusual, Tasha and James met a woman who drove all the way only to clear her bill. The story definitely stands as a testimony to honesty and the true power of goodness.

Meanwhile, the endearing reel received an overwhelming response on the platform, garnering over 100k views online. For instance, @lifewithlaveas commented, "That’s why you guys are thriving; it’s the little things that celebrate the little wins, and those little moments are precious." Similarly, a person who goes by @leahxvaovasa_ on Instagram wrote, "Oh my God, this had me crying! People who are honest in dealing with others, damn! Bless them tenfold, and you and your hubby are just the sweetest people, too! Bless your business!"

Echoing the sentiments, @jaylane_dethierry said, "It's such a beautiful mama who is sharing such valuable lessons for her children and those who are blessed to watch this! Thank you for sharing this! Loved the precious video!" A user, @shanynab, commented, "I love this! You have a beautiful heart, and it's clear because the lovely lady drove all the way to you to pay the 80 cents! Beautiful!" Another person, @coachjanec, said, "You're one of the most beautiful people, Tash! Bless her heart for coming back, but also bless yours for circling back; sometimes we forget to circle back to these moments, even though it can bring comfort to someone else!"

 You can follow FITT PREP NZ (@fitt_prep) on Instagram for their business-related updates.