Debt Collector? - $50 dollars another mum hasn’t paid back.
Hello. I am an Australian mum and I have an issue I would like some other parents input on. It concerns 50 dollars I gave to another mother a few weeks ago.
For context, our son recently started prep (1 year at primary school) at our local school. He is our oldest (we also have a 1.5 year old) and I’ve taken some unpaid leave off to be around some more these first few months. So I’m around school a lot. Other mum has a baby and seems to be off work at the moment too.
A few weeks back it was the schools fundraising book fair. Books are pretty cheap (most are 5 to 10 dollars) and they also sell some stationary (like novelty sharpeners for 1 dollar). My son and I were walking back from the book fair before school and another boy from his class stopped to chat to my son. He asked his mum to take him up to the fair.... she explained to him that she forgot it was on and left her wallet in the car. I looked through my purse and handed her a 50 saying “Do you want to borrow this, it’s not like I can’t find you again (joking)”. She took the $50 with a short thanks.
Afterwards in the classroom she didn’t return the change or ask how she could pay me back. Then a few days later she saw me again, said “I have to give you back that money, I will give it to your Friday at mothers drinks” (a social event for prep mothers). I told her I wasn’t going and we left it at that.
It’s now a couple of weeks later and she has not mentioned it again (or spoken to me). When we were both in classroom this morning settling our boys I felt a bit awkward about it all and feel a bit like she is taking the piss a little with someone who tried to be helpful.
I always put in extra when splitting a bill, pay accounts on time (if not early) and would never dream of not paying back a friend immediately, little own a almost stranger.
Not that it should make a difference but we in a affluent area, she is very well dressed and drives a nice car. So I don’t think money is likely an issue for her.
My question is what should I do about it, anything?
Do I remind her about it in case she has forgotten and if so how do I do this politely? I note I don’t particularly like the whole school drop off / social scene at the best of times (I mostly keep to myself) and would feel very odd chasing money from someone.
Do I leave it a few more weeks to see if she gets around to paying me back?
Or do I just write the money off chalking it up to “never a borrower or lender be” and try not to worry about it?
Awkward new school mum