My card table & baby stroller were loaned & never returned. I would’ve asked for them but I honestly didn’t remember they were loaned out for a very long time. Card table had my name clearly underneath & the person who borrowed it owns 2 vacation homes in addition to their main home (next to me). Really, people !

You need to know who you are lending to and borrowing from. I mean know them well. I have a husband wife pair that I lend and borrow from regularly. But the three of us respect books and respect each other's investment. I may have a book for a year but it is ALWAYS returned in the same condition as when it was received. For us it works well.

In reverse, I loaned one of my favorites to a gal who had moved to assisted living and was bored. It was not returned in a timely way and she passed away. Who knows where my book went. So, I just count it as a small investment in enriching her final days with a book that brought pleasure to us both. That same book had traveled around my office for about two months with at least four of us reading, returning, loaning and returning. The hardest part was not talking about the book until everyone had read it. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png No one wanted to spoil the story for others.

I don't like borrowing from people. I always worry if something should happen. My sister and I loan a lot but she's my sis and very reliable. We have cats and when I loan her a book she hides it from her cat, who loves paper.
I don't mind loaning to anyone who is reliable and I know who those people are. As WMU said you have to know the other person very, very well.
I would loan my friend and neighbor anything. She takes meticulous care of everything. She's an example of someone I trust.
Same with another neighbor, who uses our tools once in awhile. He's a great guy and everything comes back pristine.

If I lend anything I do it with the thought in mind that I may not get it back. I don’t lend anything that really matters to me. I give a lot of items away. I don’t borrow .

The’ borrow a cup of sugar’ phrase made me really think, bearisgray. I always taught my kids that words matter so choose them carefully. I’ve been accused of being pedantic and elitist because I used to comment on poor grammar/spelling. The number of adults who don’t know the difference between then and than is boggling. However I rarely comment on that anymore. Thanks for an interesting topic.

Nope I will not lend anything out, I would never see it again, I had an ex-daughter in law, she would borrow, folding tables for parties and coolers, when I ask her about them, she would never answer or find them for me, turns out my son said she would sell them on craigs list, cause she couldn't remember who loaned them to her. Told her to never ask again.

You also have to remember not to praise books in front of others. If you say "oh, I read the best book the other day." then someone will want to borrow it. Gotta keep your mouth sealed up!

I did loan a book to a friend, and with my permission, she sent it to her brother in Alaska (it was about Alaska). I did get it back. She was a teacher, I think they have more respect for books.

After learning the hard way I loan to only one person.

I totally agree with "neither a borrower or a lender be". I don't like to do either.

I've learned the loaning lesson the hard way. Years ago, I had a roommate that I was super close to. We often shared clothes, but also had things that were off limits, unless we asked. I had two special pairs of earrings, and she asked to borrow them. They were in my jewelry box. Several week later I went to wear a pair, and neither were there. She said she returned them. We moved out/on. Several months later I ran into her...yup she was wearing one of the pairs....she claimed she liked them so much she bought her own! Except, they were a pair, specially designed for me by a designer friend!!

I don’t anything - especially books. I learned my lesson many years ago when I lended a book and never saw it again. I can’t remember most anything but. I remember this ,book - named “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee”.

Sandy in Mooresville, NC