When Someone Owes You Cash, Consider What Else They Can Offer

When Someone Owes You Cash, Consider What Else They Can Offer

You have to be careful when lending money, even to close friends. If you’ve loaned money to someone in your life, and they’re struggling to pay you back, consider asking for a valuable favour instead.

Picture: jill, jellidonut… whatever/Flickr

Redditor justimpolite makes this suggestion, pointing out that alternatives to cash can be just as valuable, and sometimes even more valuable:

For example, someone owed me $100. She was going to pay me cash, but instead I asked what kind of discount she got at the store she worked at. It turned out to be a 20% discount. I was planning on buying something there that would cost about $115 after tax. I asked her to buy me that instead of paying me cash. It cost her $92 after tax. I saved $15 and she saved $8.

Many of us have had to deal with the awkwardness of a friend or acquaintance owing us money; this offers a solution to that problem. You still get a payback, and it gives your friend a break too.

Granted, the above example still mostly deals with cash, but you could ask a friend to pay you back in a resource or skill they might have. Do they code for a living? Ask them to pay you back by helping you with your website. Maybe they’re great at cooking. Have them cater a party.

Obviously, these are just examples. The point is we all have a valuable skill or resource. If someone is struggling to pay you back, consider what else they have to offer.

When someone owes you for something, consider other things they have to offer [Reddit]


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