Do you lend things?

[2moretrees]

I have always lent things to friends and borrowed from them in return. It has always worked out well and it ends up saving me a bunch of money since I don't have to buy many things I only use once or twice a year.

I recently got a new neighbor and she asked to borrow a ladder from me. It had been over a month and she did not return it even though I have asked for it back several times. I finally had to walk over and demand it back.

I will no longer lend to her, but I have also been noticing that other friends who are usually reliable when I lend them things haven't been as reliable lately. This is usually with small things like books and such.

Do you lend things or are their certain things that you won't lend?

[PrincessPerky]

I only lend what I am willing to lose, and I have found that many people are very absent minded, meaning me mostly. So I only borrow if I warn the person they will have to remind me to get it back. I prefer the sooner the return the better!

[MrsChambers]

NO, I do not lend

[miclason]

I do, but only to very select people...(the ones that I have a relationship that is good enough to just walk into their homes and say: I'm taking my X!)

[terry1156]

I borrow and lend things quite often. I assume that I will have to get wheatever I lend out back myself so something like that wouldn't bother me. If I need it back, I go and get it.

[amomof4]

Yes, I lend. Regret it a lot of times, but I believe in lending/borrowing. Can you imagine how much less waste there would be if we all shared? But it seems to me that even the most trusted, responsible person does not always return things back in the original condition.

[akaivyleaf]

If I can't give it, I don't lend it.

[2moretrees]

I guess I must have been lucky up to this point. It's the first real problem I've ever had. I guess I'll sit down a reevaluate how I will lend in the future so this doesn't bother me as much as it did this time.

[kashi]

I occasionally lend things, but I know they won't come back the way they left. I only lend things to people I know very, very well. I very rarely, if ever, lend books. I don't know what it is about books, but they always come back bent with a mangled cover, if they come back at all. I cherish my books too much for that.

[csaville]

I lend and borrow frequently. I recently lent a $300 bike light to someone I've met twice. I hope to get it back in good condition. I've never had a problem with it. I sometimes have to be reminded to return things. They become part of my home in no time at all!

[crosses]

I no longer lend books or videos because too many never make it back to me. part of the problem was I would forget who I lent them to, but I don't think that should be my responsibility to keep track of, so I don't lend those anymore. Besides those I don't have a problem lending.

[Armywife]

Lending can often cause one ugly situation. Akaivyleaf is right on the money with her post "If I can't give it, I don't lend it" . Amen. When I borrowed things in the past, I felt very uncomfortable until I gave it back. Unfortunately, some people don't feel uncomfortable keeping items... I guess we all learn our lessons as we go along.

[acezz4e_tish]

i hope to meet some people round here, id like to start a group of about four people. each one wtih a book of thier own. you write down what your lending, they sign for it. you do the same, that way stuff gets returned and no hard feelings are kept, i miss doing that with friends up north. never found anyone here that has what i need. i love bartering and i love watching stuff like weekend warriors and friends that help out. u do this for me i do this for u. thats what i would like more of. my old friends here, 2 of them moved away. linda had twins six months apart from my two middle kids. she bought them top dollar stuff. when they outgrew it she sold to me for almost nothing. like matching barney boots, they were like 45 dollars new each, when they outgrew them, still mint condition for 2 dollars each. jannette and i liked alot of mags and only got a couple each, we would trade off for a week. it sounds like linda wasnt making out much, but all she did was walk in my yard and made four dollars for just those two pair shoes. not having to have a yard sale and all i think made it worth it to her and she knew she could sell me everything that they outgrew. i think if you made a notebook lending would be easier and you could have your mind more at ease about it. i used to rent stuff from my house, and the police will get it back if you have a reciept. and if they sign your book, that is a reciept that they borrowed an item in a such n such condition. you could also make a trade box for toys. make the list in that book, and trade a friend who has diff toys for say one month. so kids dont get bored with the same ol same ol. worth considering.

[Ima saver]

I have never borrowed anything except books. My husband loans his ladders and walk boards to a young guy trying to get started in the framing business. He just came and got them again a few minutes ago.

[PRICEPLUS]

neither a borrower nor a lender be - Shakepeare

Good advice if you ask me!

[LittleGopher]

We lend a lot of things. Between what we've collected on our own over the years, as well as acquiring from my parents' home (when my dad died and my mom went to live in a nursing home,) our collection of tools and equipment is quite large. So we lend out many items, and haven't had a problem over the years. My husband has very tall ladders for work, so we lend those out most frequently.

We've borrowed items from these same people. It works out great usually, though we wouldn't have a problem asking for something back (or giving back if asked to return- though my husband and I are both quick to use and take very careful care of what we borrow.)

Around here, everyone borrows and lends. The first action is to put out the word that you have a need, and many times you get the item, some good advice and often an offer of a helping hand. We're real small town here!

[AntiCost]

I used to lend things. I stopped. Lost too many CD's, DVD's, and always got things back in condition that I wasn't fond of..

[lrjohnson]

I, too, agree with Ivy.

I don't mind books in funky shape, I dogear and read in bathtub, so I lend a lot and don't mind if I don't get back. If it's a particular irreplaceable book I make sure the person is aware. Other books by authors I love I will often pick up at buck-a-bag sales or other cheap sources, just so I have them to give/lend. JD salinger wrote 4 books but I've bought at least 30 over the years.

CDs are the only other thing I have that's really loanable. I have few/no real tools or equipment. My clothes are not ones folks would want to borrow (I kinda dress like a younger boy though I am a 35 yo woman). I've offered to loan my nice Eagle Creek backpack to a couple people but they passed. I've loaned some funky camping equipment. I've loaned poker chips.

I'd like to start among friends a more open give /take things, offer/lend things mentality. Another friend mentioned some people shying from used things, and it's true, but I'd like to get my circle exchanging more.

[baselle]

I lend things only occasionally, and to people I see daily or near daily, and I tell the lender that after a month out I will drive you crazy asking for it back. The rule is more for me than it is for the lendee..I feel no remorse reminding someone for my stuff back.

Funny how success tends to depend on the type of thing borrowed - lending and borrowing tools = good experience; lending and borrowing books, CDs, DVDs = bad experience.

[acezz4e_tish]

i wouldnt lend my cds or dvds. vhs yes, discs no. i mark my games too. i would lend those out, but not daves. he has playstation2 which is discs, so i would stick with lending my snes and 64 games. my mom cant lend hers.lol she bought a two seater arcade machine with alot of games in it. like how pac man used to be on a table top. she has a double one. it has so much on there thats the only game they need. even has badlands on there and i only ever saw that once at the theater when my brother and i went to see rambo. my fave game on it is 1942. her fave game on it is centapede. i couldnt believe it when i saw it i was taken away! i never seen one of them before.