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Dear Dish-It: My Friend Owes Me Money

Jan 03, 2012

Dear Dish-It,

My friend asks to borrow $5 every time I see him. I feel mean saying no to him, but he already owes me $20 from before! What should I do?

UOME

Dear UOME,

Saying no to your friend doesn’t make you a mean person – especially if you’ve already lent him money in the past. He should know that all he needs to do is show some responsibility and pay you back. Maybe then you will trust him enough to lend him more money when he needs it. Here is my advice on how to handle this situation.

What to Say

Your main focus is probably on getting your money back at this point. Next time your friend asks to borrow $5, say something like, “I would, but you already owe me $20.” Maybe this way he’ll get the hint that he has to pay you back before he’ll see any more cash.

Saying No

Sometimes, saying no to a friend is like saying yes to yourself. If you’re being asked to do something that makes you feel totally uncomfortable or that you know isn’t right, saying no is the way to go. Besides, you don’t have to be the bank to be a good friend. Instead, be a good listener, be kind and help your friends out in other ways besides giving them your allowance!

Have Your Say

Has this ever happened to you? Got any good advice for UOME? Leave your comment below!

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