How to keep track of things you lend, and get them back
Money has a balance. Things just quietly disappear: the book you lent two years ago, the drill that’s been at a neighbour’s since spring, the charger nobody remembers taking. A tiny bit of record-keeping gets most of them back.
Write down four things
- What you lent, specifically: “the green camping stove”, not “camping stuff”.
- Who has it.
- When it left.
- When it should come back, even roughly.
For anything valuable, add a photo of its condition. It settles questions about scratches before they start.
Set a return date, even a loose one
“Whenever you’re done” never arrives. “By the end of the month” does. A date gives you both something to aim for, and a natural moment to ask if it passes.
Ask for it back the easy way
A reason and an offer to collect it make it easy to say yes:
When something comes back damaged, or doesn’t come back
Start by asking what happened rather than how much it cost. Then agree a fix: a repair, a replacement, or what it was worth used, not its price new. If it was cheap and the friendship isn’t, letting it go is a perfectly good outcome. Decide on purpose, and cross it off your list.
Borrowing well
- Give it back on time, or ask for more time before the date passes.
- Return it clean, charged and in the same condition, with the case and the cables.
- If something broke, say so straight away and offer to fix or replace it.
- A thank-you goes a long way, and makes it easy for them to lend again.
Things people most often forget they lent
Books, tools and ladders, board games, camping and sports gear, kitchen equipment, chargers and cables, suitcases, party supplies, baby and kids’ gear, and clothes for an event. If you’re missing something, that list is a good place to start asking.
Keep it next to your money records
In ClearOwe, the things you lend and borrow sit next to the money, with a return date and a nudge when it’s due. You can add a photo too, which stays on your phone.
Common questions
How do I ask for something back without it being awkward?
Be specific and make it easy: “Could I get the drill back this weekend? I need it for a shelf, and I can pick it up on Saturday.” A reason and an offer to collect it make it easy to say yes.
What if they lost or broke what I lent them?
Ask calmly what happened, and agree a fix: a repair, a replacement, or what it’s worth today rather than its price new. Deciding this before you lend something valuable avoids the argument altogether.
Should I lend expensive things to friends?
Lend what you’d be fine losing or getting back with some wear. For anything expensive, agree when it comes back and what happens if it’s damaged, and take a photo before it goes.