When a friend owes money (somewhat long)

[MineralDiva]

I think you did the right thing by reimbrusing your former BF.  That was very gracious of you.  But now this "friend" refuses to pay up.  Not cool.

Either you'll have to chalk it up as a lesson learned, as far as giving her ANY more $$...or inviting her anywhere....or you can take her to small-claims court. 

I would probably write off both the money AND this so-called "friend."

[SunkissableOne]

I have to agree with other posters...hopefully this was a lesson learned.  One of my best friends had a similar situation only with $1600!  She has had to take our friend to court and now they no longer talk...and she still has yet to see a penny!  It's a hard lesson to learn for sure!

[TechGirl]

I have to agree with the other posters.  Plus, she's not really much of a friend.

[kckgirl]

I only have one rule about this kind of thing.  I never lend money.  You're either close enough that I give you the money you want, or you're not close enough to borrow it, so you get out of the car and walk to Chicago.  I am totally heartless about this.   

If you should decide to continue your friendship and if she eventually pays you back, I wouldn't make any more plans with her that involve more than 2 or 3 dollars unless you get cash up front, before she enters the car. I agree w/Zip...get that money first or walk and see if you can get a ticket when you get there.

[HogwartsAlum]

But Your Honor, it was a gift

I think watching about 200 hours of Judge Judy ought to be required of any young person before they are allowed to move out on their own and manage their own money.   Almost every other case has to do with former friends arguing over loans or some (now) broken up couple trying to recoup money loaned to their former partner.    ""But it was a gift!"  or "I didn't ask her for it, she just gave it to me!"  is the standard defense. 

It certainly is a good primer on how NOT to act.  Some of the people on there are so unbelievable I can't close my mouth through the entire show.

*must...start....taping it again....*

[gr_gal1993]

Repaying your ex-boyfriend was the right thing to do.  She was your friend and as you said, he wouldn't have invited her along on his own.  In all honesty though, I doubt you will ever get your money back.  There are too people in this world who have learned that they can just avoid their friends/family long enough and the debt isn't an issue for them.

My rule is never to loan money to anyone.  I learned it in 7th grade when a couple of kids would borrow money to buy ice cream and wouldn't repay it.  When confronted about the status of their repayment when they asked to borrow another dollar, they would simply say, "but I didn't plan to pay you back and I don't have any money, but I want something else for lunch".  That was enough for me.  It taught me that they only came to me because they thought I had money and would be willing to help them treat themselves.  From that moment on, I decided that I wouldn't be loaning money to anyone because my money is used to treat me and my family only. 

You were kind to your friend, but remember that kindness takes many forms and lots of those forms don't involve using your money to aid her.  Your money is your's alone and nobody ever has a right to claim the use of it for themselves.

[goblue2539]

Hoppin on the band wagon.  I'll still lend money, but not if it'll hurt me to lose it.  That way, I don't put myself in a bind, but there's still a chance I've got a friend or two who's decent enough to pay me back.  Good luck finding people who treat you better than this girl did.