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Original poster

Would you help in these circumstances

259 replies

Mamma1383838 · Yesterday 15:14

Friend did a massive favour for me a while back. It didn’t cost them anything, but it saved me thousands. At the time we didn’t have much so I bought a small gift as thanks.

They recently asked me to lend them a significant sum of money, repaying over a long time period. It’s a lot, more than we‘d want to give away, but we could afford to lose the sum now if it came to it. I don’t want to mix friendship and money but I want to help. It’s for a nice to have rather than for something essential.

Would you lend them the money? Curious as I know the general advice here is not to.

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ChampagneLassie · Today 19:39

Mamma1383838 · Yesterday 19:58

It’s still a significant sum. It would probably be passed on to DC in time and they will certainly need everything we can give them. It’s just that we don’t need it now.

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I think that’s all the more reason that you should help. Whether we’re talking about £10k or £100k you’ve said that they’re favour to you saved you more money than they’re asking to borrow.

pipthomson · Today 19:30

it would be nice to help with finding out what her other options are !

JulietteRoche · Today 19:26

Gmhopkins · Today 15:44

I don’t understand why you won’t help your friend. She helped you.

That's an oversimplification of the situation.

Stillsoithink · Today 18:24

GreatFish · Today 18:04

How would she know you have the money to lend?I would personally say I didn't have that sort of money or that all the money I have is tied up in accounts I cannot access.

No idea how much it is though. Only a very vague “l1/2-2/3 of what she saved the OP.

GreatFish · Today 18:04

How would she know you have the money to lend?I would personally say I didn't have that sort of money or that all the money I have is tied up in accounts I cannot access.

Stillsoithink · Today 16:44

You are getting a split of responses because the information is so scant that it’s all about speculation.
Your husband isn’t speculating though - he knows everything and he says to go for it. All the talk about inheritances and whether she’ll bail or not etc - you know your friend, you know everything. We know very little. So I’d stop confusing yourself even more with the split opinions because they’re based on very little and just make the call and put your mate out of her misery!

Original poster
Mamma1383838 · Today 16:27

ForGreyGoose · Today 16:15

Blimey, this thread has gone viral ! I'd lend her the money, she's done you a massive favour - isn't that what friends are for ?

Oh dear, just within MN I hope!

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ForGreyGoose · Today 16:15

Blimey, this thread has gone viral ! I'd lend her the money, she's done you a massive favour - isn't that what friends are for ?

BiggerIsAlwaysBetter · Today 16:06

Mamma1383838 · Yesterday 18:36

Aren’t credit cards 0% for a limited time? And if you can’t pay it off after a year the debt spirals doesn’t it?

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You just transfer to a different one.

And tbh, if youre worried that they can't repay it within a year and considering loaning the money yourself...well, not being able to repay it becomes your problem instead if theirs or the banks.

Gmhopkins · Today 15:44

I don’t understand why you won’t help your friend. She helped you.

tommyhoundmum · Today 15:26

Easytorecall · Today 15:22

DH knows this and he’s fully supportive. So confused why @Mamma1383838 has spent last 24 hours discussing it on such depth. Going back and forth. Great friend. Trusts implicitly. Husband fully supportive.

Edited
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I lent £26,000 in a similar situation and lost the cash and the friendship

Easytorecall · Today 15:22

tommyhoundmum · Today 15:18

Can you say how much money and the repayment period?

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DH knows this and he’s fully supportive. So confused why @Mamma1383838 has spent last 24 hours discussing it on such depth. Going back and forth. Great friend. Trusts implicitly. Husband fully supportive.

outerspacepotato · Today 15:22

No.

Why aren't they taking out a bank loan? Hitting up family members? Your friendship will end over this and you won't see your money.

The only people I give money to are my kids.

tommyhoundmum · Today 15:18

Mamma1383838 · Today 15:13

Ok the holiday home is an analogy. They lent it to me continuously over many years. It meant they couldn’t use it but they weren’t using it anyway, to stay in or rent out.

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Can you say how much money and the repayment period?

JulietteRoche · Today 15:18

Mamma1383838 · Today 15:13

Ok the holiday home is an analogy. They lent it to me continuously over many years. It meant they couldn’t use it but they weren’t using it anyway, to stay in or rent out.

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Thank you, that's perfect and makes sense. In that case, I don't think you are at all morally obliged to lend them money. It's not at along the same lines as free legal advice, it was very kind of them but it didn't actually cost them anything. I'm not saying don't lend them the money, but you certainly shouldn't feel obliged to do so, and if they make you feel guilty about it, that meant that their initial generosity came with strings.

Easytorecall · Today 15:17

This is all a bit attention seeking

Original poster
Mamma1383838 · Today 15:13

JulietteRoche · Today 14:49

If you can't be more specific, I really don't know what to say. As it wasn't anything that could equate to billable hours, I'm leaning towards not lending them the money. I'm thinking it's more along the lines of lending someone a holiday home, in which case it was nice of them but more of a throwaway favour.

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Ok the holiday home is an analogy. They lent it to me continuously over many years. It meant they couldn’t use it but they weren’t using it anyway, to stay in or rent out.

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Smartnamechoice · Today 14:53

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Smartnamechoice · Today 14:52

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JulietteRoche · Today 14:50

Mamma1383838 · Today 14:10

Sorry if it makes it less interesting to read! It’s helpful for me though.

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I don't find it so much less interesting as harder to answer. Couldn't you at least think of an analogy that would give an idea of what you're talking about?

JulietteRoche · Today 14:49

Mamma1383838 · Today 13:08

My friend didn’t provide professional advice or any kind of advice. Sorry I don’t want to be specific.

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If you can't be more specific, I really don't know what to say. As it wasn't anything that could equate to billable hours, I'm leaning towards not lending them the money. I'm thinking it's more along the lines of lending someone a holiday home, in which case it was nice of them but more of a throwaway favour.

Smartnamechoice · Today 14:12

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Original poster
Mamma1383838 · Today 14:11

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Still open to it.

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Smartnamechoice · Today 14:11

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Original poster
Mamma1383838 · Today 14:10

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Sorry if it makes it less interesting to read! It’s helpful for me though.

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