Do you lend money? What do you say if someone asks?

• O-Trap

  

  As I sit here at my back patio table, a Rocky Patel in my hand, Skype up on my screen, a programming contractor I've used in the past messages me and asks if he can borrow $40.
  
  Now aside from the fact that I don't know the guy that well, and that it strikes me as somewhat inappropriate, I agreed to send it to him as a payment for something I'm having him do for my business.
  
  However, had I not needed something done, I'm not sure what I would have told the guy. Granted, I don't want to sever a business relationship over $50, especially with someone who does good work, but that just seems odd.
  
  So I ask you, do you lend money to people? Does it depend on their relationship to you? And what do you tell someone who asks to borrow money if you have no desire to loan it to them?
• Steel Valley Football

  A quick and simple "no I can't" just like the bum asking for smokes or change.
• Curly J

  

  I look at it as if I lend someone money it might as well be a gift. I 'lend' my Sister money every few months. She's been sick lately after her treatment for breast cancer. They are in no way of a position to ever pay me back and I don't expect it.
  I'm just thankful I'm in a position right now that I can do it.
  
  Many years ago a guy I worked with was short on cash and asked me if he could borrow some money, like twenty bucks or so. He was getting ready to go to a Vietnam Vets reunion at a base down south. I gave him a Hundred and told him to have a round of golf on me. I mean he was a fellow Vet and has health issues due to Agent Orange. He even lost his newborn son due to a birth defect from it. He couldn't believe that I'd just give him the money not wanting it paid back. It did make me feel good as he was a hard worker just in a pinch at the time.
  
  So no I never lend money, only give.
• Steel Valley Football

  Can I have some money, then. It's for...um...golf. Yes, golf.
• Curly J

  

  Steel Valley Football;1215661 wrote:Can I have some money, then. It's for...um...golf. Yes, golf.

  
  I gave your Mom money last night.
  
  /SVF'd
• Manhattan Buckeye

  Only for the closest friends/family - and agree with Curly J's point above, it is a gift, not a loan. I'm not going to bust a friend's balls for repayment. If they are in a situation that they need to ask, then they need it more than I need repayment.
• gut

  $40 from someone you don't know that well? Does sound very odd. But I suppose if he gets that from 10 people then he has some decent cash. Never though about it, but maybe that's a better way to go then trying to get a few hundred from a couple of people. Since he does work from you it shouldn't be a problem getting your money back (theoretically, he could always pad a bill) assuming he's honest.
  
  Otherwise, immediate family it would be a gift. Close friends depends on the amount. Not sure I'd be comfortable with more than a few hundred to a friend. Unless it's a long-time close friend, truth be told it's easier for people to just write-off their friend than pay back hundreds or thousands of dollars. Especially as people get married and have families it's not like they have to worry about finding new drinking/bar buddies.
• hoops23

  

  I've never loaned money. Loaning is for people who are unable to give themselves. Each and every time I've been asked for money, I've offered $100 in lieu of the begging. It works every time.
  
  /sleeper'd
• Rotinaj

  

  I have 1 friend(maybe 2) that I would loan more than like $20 to. Good thing I don't have a lot of money to be in the position of being asked in the first place.
• BR1986FB

  I lend my girlfriend's mom and her one son money all of the time. They ALWAYS pay me back because I think they realize that a) they WILL be in a pinch again and b) if they don't pay me back they're done. "Screw me once, shame on you....screw me twice, shame on me."
  
  As far as family or friend go, with family you might as well consider it a gift. If I were to loan money to a friend, we'd see just how "true" of a friend this person was by whether it was paid back or not.
• Steel Valley Football

  Curly J;1215663 wrote:I gave your Mom money last night.
  
  /SVF'd

  
  Reported.
• rmolin73

  

  I'm like Curly J I give I don't loan I give. I have people in my family that are leeches on society and I won't give them shit!
• ts1227

  

  Generally when people ask they want money on the spot (like they need $10-20), so I just say that I don't have any cash on me, even if I do (I rarely do anyway).
  
  In the past my mom has asked me for money for shit and I just tell her no because she has a tendency to not pay back. Also if she wants more money she can quit smoking. Fuck smokers.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Only to very good/close friends or immediate family.
• gerb131

  

  99.999999% NO
  but if I would, they are signing something.
• Ironman92

  

  About twice a year to my brother-in-law's family.....it's always $400 and they always pay back but it's irresponsible on their part. Sad thing is they also bum off of my in-laws and they live off of next to nothing and have nothing.
• bigdaddy2003

  

  Very rarely because most people who ask me for money are bad about paying back and I'm too nice to badger them.