Not to loan my friend 2k

You need to accept that she is not telling you the truth, and probably hasn't been for a while. On that basis it should be a no.

You must be working so hard, both at work and at home. She, on the other hand, is staying in bed instead of working and now wants you to use the money from your job to give to her so that she can keep up with her richer boyfriend.

She's not a good friend to you, OP.

Just say you have put your savings into an isa so can’t get them back without losing the benefit.

sounds like the 2k would be a stop gap and you might never get it back

My Dad used to say: "Neither a borrower not a lender be." - a lot!

I would be very sympathetic but stick to the line that you wish you could help but you simply can't afford to.
If she questions this just keep saying sorry you can't afford it

Absolutely do not lend her any more money. It sounds like she has been claiming for time she didn't work and has been found out. Can't imagine a company topping up wages.

If you feel bad about the holiday I'd probably give her £500 tell her it's a gift but you won't be lending money out again. You've put it all in a fixed saving account for something, child's uni etc. Or give her nothing and tell her the same. Yoh don't owe her anything.

Why would you even get uminto this? It's people pleasing and you really should read up on the downsides of this. There are assertiveness courses online too. You want your friend to like you so much that you're letting yourself be taken for a mug. She has a partner - step away and let them figure money and life matters out together as a couple, without your saviour syndrome clouding things.

You both have work to do on yourselves, albeit in different ways.

It looks like you've been funding her not WFH lifestyle. It's ok to decline and hang onto your hard earned money. She's possibly into on line gambling. It doesn't matter, you need to stop enabling her. Just say no. You don't have to apologise, or explain. Just decline.

Why does she know about your savings and other financial circumstances?

Going forward, keep that information private.

Then I think you need to be honest and tell her she’s clearly struggling and needs to get a grip of her financial situation. Would she respond well if you offered to help her budget etc? Sorry OP but it doesn’t sound like she’s being much of a friend if she keeps asking for money and putting you in this situation.

I do not think it is about analysing her finances and wondering why she needs a loan - it is about establishing the principle that you are not going to lend her money at all. End of.

Tell her you are a single mother and must prioritise your son. End of.

Doesn’t mean you have it spare just because you have it though does it? Say it’s earmarked for a new boiler or something if you need a lie but the fact is that it’s not spare. You’re a single parent with no back up. Put you and your DC first.

Fair enough it was a gift so you’re not obliged to pay her back at all, but now that she’s in need of money If you have 1K now to give to her, why don’t you give it to her now ?

Say to her you’re done with loaning money and won’t be doing it again, but this is a final monetary gift to help her out and also in recognition of her earlier generosity to make it clear she can’t hold any previous favours over your head. And then wipe your hands off the whole situation.

She's a mooching user.

Many people have MH problems and still manage to meet their obligations. Don't continue to enable her.

Your first duty is to maintain a solvent household for your child and yourself.

I agree with PP you need to say no. I also suspect she is gambling away the money or similar, it doesn’t have to be betting, it can be online bingo or other things,

I’d just say sorry, no can do. I don’t have that amount of cash spare. If i did, i wouldn’t have had to save for a whole year to have a holiday. Speak to your BF

This is exactly what I thought.

Did you pay her back for the holiday?
I think if no and she spent 1k on taking you on holiday perhaps consider lending her that amount...?
But I think you are well within your rights to just say 'no I can't I'm sorry but I don't have thar spare' you don't need to explain yourself.
I certainly wouldn't be lending 2k as that's a huge amount that might effect you if she couldn't pay it back... which it's likely she couldn't.
If you do decide to lend her money lend her a realistic amount that she might be able to pay back or would not seriously effect you if she couldn't.
But as I said if you don't want to then just say no! There's a good argument for not doing as it seems she is becoming dependant on your money rather than actually sorting her problems out.
I'd say if you do lend some money you need to have a stern word with her about how this will be the last time and she needs to get a grip on things.

You are a single mother raising a teenager. You have—can have—no spare cash because you have no backup. She can forget or ignore that but you can’t. Just say no.

I realize how hard this advice sounds but she needs to get on top of her crisis sooner, rather than later. Right now (she says) its manageable at a (mere) 2000. If you loan it to her she will kick the can down the road and transfer the pain and anger to you as her new creditor while her debts continue to mount.

She is not in control of her finances. She has been robbing peter to pay paul for a long time. The 70, 000 pound inheritance and your loans helped her hide her collapse up until now. But the situation will collapse. Don’t let your friendship be destroyed y becoming her creditor.