Lending money to a friend usually starts as a favour and too often ends in awkward silence. The problem is rarely the money itself; it's the details nobody talked about: how much, by when, and how it will be paid back.
1. Lend only what you could afford to lose
Ask yourself: "If this never comes back, can I live with it without resenting my friend?" If the answer is no, lend less. That protects both of you.
2. Agree on a due date — an actual date
"When I get paid" is vague; "15 November" is not. Pick the date together and write it down. If you agreed on instalments, note each instalment's date.
3. Keep a record, even for small amounts
A record isn't a sign of distrust; it protects both sides from forgetting. You only need:
- Who, how much, and in which currency?
- When was it lent, and when is it due?
- How much has been paid back so far?
4. Record partial payments one by one
When your friend pays 100 of a 300 loan, don't edit your note to "200 left" — add the payment as its own entry. When "but I already paid you" comes up months later, a dated record ends the discussion (tracking partial payments).
5. Keep reminders impersonal
When the due date arrives, a short, kind message is enough. Talk about the date and the amount, not about who is right. Ready-made wording is in how to remind someone to pay you back.
6. If money flows both ways, look at the net
Among friends money often moves in both directions. If a friend owes you 50 and you owe them 30 from last month's dinner, the number worth discussing is the net: 20.
With Sudeb
Add your friend as a person in Sudeb and enter the loan with its due date; record payments as they arrive. The person screen shows what you owe each other and the net difference between you.