“Be careful about lending a friend money. It may damage his memory.” As a person with a good conscience, it is our nature to borrow money to others who are in need. Borrowing is the easy part; it’s the repayment that is difficult. I’m certain that everyone has faced this problem at one time or another in their lives. I've been through many situations with old friends and even family members where they would ask to borrow some money and then they take forever to pay it back. It cheeses me off when someone does this. I don't understand why someone doesn't just pay back money they owe someone as soon as they have the amount. I've actually had to remind them that they owed me money sometimes. I hate the idea of having to ask for it back, because one shouldn't have to ask. It is not simply a question of paying or not paying. It is more than that. It involves some human quality to it. It’s a matter of honesty and integrity. They take advantage of our kindness. They claim they do not have the money to pay us back, and yet they have money to buy a new laptop or the latest fashions. Being in debt to a friend and not paying them back is the quickest way to lose a friend. Nobody likes to owe people money, but if someone owes money to another, then they should pay them back. It’s just common sense. They were kind enough to lend it; you should be kind enough to pay it back. So what’s the solution? Here it is, plain and simple! "If you want to keep a friend, don't borrow and don't lend". Catchy...isn’t it? Never lend money to friends with any thought of getting it back, just treat as a gift to help them get back on their feet. Too many good friendships have been lost on the rocks because of a “simple” loan. There is no such thing as a simple loan. Why do you think the banks process a ton of paper and countless signatures just to borrow a few bucks? If you have a friend or family member that owes you money, best to just forget about it and chalk it up as helping someone in need. If you still feel you absolutely must lend someone money, be sure to write up an agreement. It doesn't matter if it's your brother, sister or the best friend you've known for decades, a clear agreement signed by both parties is important. It's not a matter of trust, but a clear understanding of what is expected. The agreement should have dates and specific amounts for repayment. And to all you deadbeats that owe money to friends or family…SMARTEN UP…and PAY UP!!