Do you lend things?

[LittleGopher]

Re: Do you lend things?

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]

Re: Do you lend things?

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]

Re: Do you lend things?

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]

Re: Do you lend things?

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]

Re: Do you lend things?

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.

[ioana]

Re: Do you lend things?

I do not like lending my stuff and I haven't doen it for loooong time. This way I can avoid embarassing moments in case someone loses my stuff or damages them and I get mad :P

[jodi]

Re: Do you lend things?

I will loan things that I won't need for a while. A friend is expecting her first child anyday now - she's had my maternity clothes for months now (they are so expensive!) because I knew I wouldn't be needing them anytime soon. I just gave her an entire box of baby clothes too, asking that she give them back when her baby outgrows them (we plan to have more kids). There is nothing irreplacable in the box, so if a few things get stained or lost, I won't care. I know most of the items will find their way back to me. I remember how expensive it was to buy maternity and baby clothes.
I would do this for other things, but no one really asks me for anything else! But I would definitely offer if I saw a need somewhere, as long as it was someone I was close to, or I didn't care too much about the item.

[Lemony]

Re: Do you lend things?

I lend and give freely, but never money.

[kealina]

Re: Do you lend things?

i'm happy to lend and help but i usually try to follow one of two rules... either 1) it's someone i trust/have a good relationship with/i can just ask for my item back... or 2) it's something that i don't mind losing...
there are very few people in the first category... DH and i do our best to fit into this category... everything we borrow comes back in the best shape we can manage....
one of my teachers in high school used to tell us to "return things the same if not better" and i still try to follow that...
the second category for me is most of my clothes... there are only a few sentimental/irreplaceable things i wouldn't lend out but i'm happy to share the rest... i'll lend out shoes, some jewelry, books, DVD's, videos, etc... most of these things i could do without for several months...
i would hesitate before lending out my purses since i only have a few and i use them all fairly often but would for a special occasion as long as i had them back within a week or two...

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Do you lend things?

I give and I take, but I have a strict policy of neither lending nor borrowing.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Re: Do you lend things?

We do lend movies or varous equipment (like a tiller or saws) to good friends & family.

We do not lend $ as I'm always leary of it ever being paid back & I can't afford for it not to be repaid KWIM?

[fairy74]

Re: Do you lend things?

Never lend money, happy to lend books, clothes, etc.. I don't lend kitchen items (as I get very irritated if these are not returned). I think what other posters have said is correct if you can't lose it don't lend it.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: Do you lend things?

Coincidentally, the biggest loss I've suffered in lending was of an extension ladder. I have not cleaned my gutters or checked the chimney in about six years because I've never replaced the ladder.

I think sometimes people forget who they borrowed things from. It might be a good idea to put your name on items before lending, if that can be done. Ex. "R. Davis. Please return."

[kealina]

Re: Do you lend things?

I think sometimes people forget who they borrowed things from. It might be a good idea to put your name on items before lending, if that can be done. Ex. "R. Davis. Please return."

my mom is constantly giving away food to everybody and has always had problems with people returning her tupperware... one of her solutions includes buying lots of extra tupperware/rubbermaid/etc containers at garage sales...

this quote reminded me of a talk we had about a month ago... she marks her containers on the bottom with her name and still has problems with containers never coming back... i told her she should write something new just below her name that would give people that extra goose... i told her to write "please return me" and she started laughing... still, i think it's not a bad idea if you are like my mom and chronically give away food in containers and then have no idea where all your containers are...

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Re: Do you lend things?

Around here it is customary to return the food container with other food in it. So if I have supper at your house and you send me home with a container of your delicious curry, then in a week or so I will return the container, and it may have in it my famous peanutbutter fudge or homemade noodles.