When Someone Borrows

Here's the situation. Someone asks if you can pick something up for them - so you lay out the money and get it for them and give it to them. But they don't have the cash at the moment - but you trust them and give them the item.

Then they never pay you.

How often and for how long do you ask for the money? At what point do you write it off? How much money would make a difference between writing it off and continuing to ask?

ETA: If they keep 'forgetting' - how often and for how long do you ask?

Message edited 3/10/2008 10:35:31 AM.

Re: When Someone Borrows

depends on the $ amount

if it's say $40 or less, I would forget it and chalk it up to "I will not do that again"

if it's more, let her know that "your credit card is due" or something and you really need that $ (did she forget or is avoiding it?)

Re: When Someone Borrows

Yes, I am big on the "credit card is due".

Re: When Someone Borrows

Re: When Someone Borrows

"Before borrowing money from a friend it's best to decide which you need most." Joe Moore

"A ready way to lose your friend is to lend him money. Another equally ready way to lose him is to refuse to lend him money. It is six of one and a half dozen of the other." George Jean Nathan


Depends on the amount, and the closeness of the friend. If the friendship is important, I would just put out gentle reminders every once in a while, as mentioned above.

Re: When Someone Borrows

Here's a thought....

Ask her/him to pick up something for you of equal value...

Re: When Someone Borrows

This made me think of that saying if you lend someone $20 and never see them again it was probably worth it

I hate being in situations like this. Even if it is for something that cost $20. That's not enough to lose a friendship with someone over but why should I pay $20 for something you needed. I would feel like I was taken advantage of and would get annoyed anytime i thought of it.

In cases like that you just have to remember to never lay money out again for that person.

I know of a contractor that was owed a lot of money from a guy that owned a restaurant. He went to the guys restaurant with a group of 10 they ate the most expensive things on the menu ordered wine and drinks all night. When the bill came the guy wrote on it deduct this from what you owe me. Maybe you could do something like that meet them for lunch and when the bill comes say oh I don't have any cash can you get this and I'll subtract it from what you owe me.

Message edited 3/10/2008 10:55:52 AM.

Re: When Someone Borrows

i only have one or two friends i would do this for, and i've never had a problem telling them that i need to pay my cc bill and they can send me a check. if they keep "forgetting" i'll just suck it up but the next time i see them, i'll casually mention that they can pay for dinner/drinks/whatever to make up for the $$ they owe me... i have never gotten an argument