It’s a good idea to keep track of anything you lend out. My friend Margot has a “borrowing book.” Whether the loan is clothing, books, or money, she writes down everything: who borrows the item, what item is borrowed, and when it will be returned. Maybe this strikes you as overkill, but after a friend borrowed Margot’s favorite dress and $50 to pay bills—neither of which Margot saw again—she decided to keep track of who got what and when. “I don’t mind lending stuff out,” she says. “I just want to make sure I get it back.”
