Hey, my best friend of 40years has loads of money, we went to the same school, she left started her own business with her ex, they made millions and she now is retired in 5 bed house with her new husband and daughter who is the same age as my daughter. She’s been retired for years and her new husband hadn’t much money so basically lives off her and doesn’t work either. They have about 5 holidays a year. On the other end of the scale is me, work two jobs, single Mom, small semi, struggling to pay for things as most people are. I’ve never asked for anything- she leant me £3,000 once to clear my cards and I paid her back every month so that was clear. Once she gave me £1,000 to help me which was a lovely surprise. She’s like a sister to me and our two kids play with each other often, her daughter goes to private school, I’ve always felt that if I had millions I would share my success with the people I love including friends but I’ve never held this against her.
So this year I’d been having problems with my ex so she offered to take me and my son away, we went self catering with a small travel company where transfers were paid for as extras. I was so happy as I couldn’t afford anything so we went, my parents gave me £400 euros to have a good time. Food was expensive, there was a small kitchen and not much choice in the supermarket, we ate out a couple of times once at McDonald’s, lunch time the restaurant at the apartments sold chips, so I’d get the kids some chips and I’d have a sandwich or crisps, I bought the kids drinks and us coffee and snacks, if I treated my son to a small toy I’d make sure her son also had one. I bought some coffee for the room and she came to me for one occasionally as well as drinks for the kids. I thought as she had bought the holiday it was going the least I could do and I’ve always been generous even if I can’t afford much.
on the way home the transfer to the airport an hour away didn’t show, we waited over an hour and the airport was an hour away so we were fretting we would miss the flight, I had called the company and they said it was on the way. We ended up getting a taxi which cost over £100 and my friend got. We had had an email saying at the airport make sure you’re there on time as there are major delays due to low staff issues. We both thought we are late and will miss the flight, we didn’t want our bags to go through incase when we got through security the flight had gone so we both decided to take a later flight which again my friend paid for. We got home and have gone through insurance, my insurance wouldn’t accept the claim but my friend is still trying through hers, she has had the taxi money back. She thinks she will probably get her flight money back but wants me to pay mine back. It’s £300 which is a lot for me to pay as I’m skint most of the time. To put things in perspective she was meant to be going on holiday last week but on the morning of the holiday decided not to go, it was for her and husband and child so they lost all the money without batting an eyelid. We spoke about me paying her back and I explained I’m always short of money, she said to be fair it’s because I spend my money on silly things on holiday but all I really bought was food for us all and little toy bits, hair brades ect. And I only paid for a lot as my parents helped me out.
I do love her as a friend and she is more like a sister but I know if the shoe was on the other foot I’d let her off the repayment. I’m not 100% sure her husband isn’t getting his voice heard as she pays for all their trips and his trips with his friends and at their wedding his speech was bragging about all the holidays they’ve been on since they met. AIBU?