I have a friend who I lent around $20 two years ago. Then again, he took another $30 loan six months ago saying he would pay me $50 all at once in a few days. But then, he stopped picking my phone.
I've had "friends" like that, and I learned my lesson a long time ago: never lend money to friends (or family for that matter). If something goes wrong, you lose a friendship or family gatherings become awkward. But I also believe that, in the large majority of cases, you don't help people by lending them money.
Those are the types of "loans" that require a two-tiered memory, lol. On one hand you want to forget about the money and try to preserve the relationship. This is especially crucial with family members whom you're likely to encounter regularly. On the other hand, you want to remember to never give them another loan. Usually the second part takes care of itself; if they have any self respect they are unlikely to ever ask again due to embarrassment.
I liken this to that same type of relative or friend who, when you're out to dinner, always happens to run to the bathroom right before the check comes. The way to deal with them is to ask if they want two separate checks before ordering. That way you set the stage and let them know you're not paying for the three alcoholic beverages they're certain to order during the course of the meal. I don't know how they develop such precise timing. It makes me wonder how well they would do if they applied that same type of clairvoyance to timing the stock market.
