I learned my lessons from...my mother... I loan her books- then find them in a box marked *free* sitting by her door & find she is telling anyone who stops by to look through the box & see if they want anything; I loaned her a really nice word processor/typewriter...she *forgot* where it came from & put it at the bottom of her driveway with a *free* sign (cost me $189 and I used it on occasion) when I asked for it back she felt bad...found a different one for $25 on ebay & bought it for me- came without a power cord or ink...I loaned her a crystal punch set for an *important* get together- she gave it to my sister in law for her birthday...now, i'm the *selfish* one in the family & just say...no! if the request is something I think someone really *needs* I buy them their own & gift it to them...loans...nope- to aggravating!