Dear Amy: Last year my friend asked me to register her son (along with mine) for soccer so both boys would be on the same team. They are best friends. I paid $130 and she said she’d pay me back. She never did. Fast forward to this year and again she asked me to register her son for soccer.
I did it, but now I’m getting aggravated.
I’ve asked her about the money, but she keeps saying they’re broke. But somehow she seems to pay for her three other kids to take part in various sports and dancing lessons.
Should I ask her to try and pay me in installments? I feel like I’ve been taken advantage of. This is putting a strain on our friendship. — Unsure
Dear Unsure: If your friend never paid you back for the previous year’s fees, then why would you think she would pay you this year?
At some point, you either need to take well-deserved credit for your generosity, or admit to yourself that you’ve been a chump. A simple rule is — no more loans until the debt is paid. Definitely suggest installments.
Dear Amy: I agree with your advice to “Caring Parents,” whose 25-year-old daughter complained about their “interference” in her life as an adolescent.
My adult son occasionally criticized decisions I made in his childhood, for example, “I would be a star in the NFL today, if you had allowed me to play football.”
My response to every complaint was the same, “I’m sorry, honey, the statute of limitations ran out on that just yesterday!” We would both laugh and change the subject. — Donna
Yeah, how dumb can you be? The first year, ok. She didn't pay you back. She's a rat. Next year you say, sorry, you didn't pay me back from last year which you still owe me so duh , i am not registering your kid! Do it yourself beitch!
I would have told her it was her turn to register & pay for both boys. I would make sure to register my son in time for him to play if she didn't of course.
I hate situations like this. You see them on judge Judy all the time.
The "poor" friend thinks being poor is some sort of excuse for not paying it back--even a little at a time--and they think since their "rich" friend can afford it, they are somehow entitled to that money.
On the other hand, the person doing the lending comes up with crap like "well, I loaned it to her because I'm a good person". That MAY have been true the first time, now you're just a dumb chump.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
I would have told her it was her turn to register & pay for both boys. I would make sure to register my son in time for him to play if she didn't of course.
I wouldn't trust her to register my kid in time or pay. Register your OWN kid.
