Whether it's a pen, book, clothes, money, car, shoes, purse, cd, ipod, DS, gaming system, toy, movie, pan, record, skates, toboggan, car seat, WHATEVER! If you want to borrow people's items, there are two golden rules:
- return the item in the same condition you borrowed it, in a timely manner or agreed time frame
- do not constantly borrow it. if it's more than twice in a month, it's time
My mom has quite a collection of cartoons since she helped raise all of the grandchildren. Now, when we leave sometimes Marcus is watching one of the movies. We are not waiting till it's over, so in typical toddler dramatics he cries. I HAVE TO watch this movie. I've been there. But, I just don't cry outwardly. My mom is kind enough to let us take it home to watch the rest. This has happened several times. So, on one of her visits to our place she asked about the movies. Marcus didn't want to give them back! oh baby! sigh.
Someone else was venting to me about a neighbour of his. His buddy borrowed his snow blower so often, he felt comfortable to just go into the garage and help himself without asking anymore. See rule 2, neighbour guy. I'm guilty of this too. We've borrowed our neighbours snow blower a few times last season. I felt guilty each time. They are so freaking expensive! We are lucky to have great neighbours, and JD offered his garage code so we can just help ourselves whenever we need it. Thank you very much, but, I'd rather not. We will get one. I don't want to be 'the neighbour' that borrows stuff and breaking rule 2. I think that's why we're such good friends/neighbours. We don't impose. Or maybe that's my Asian upbringing. IDK. But, when the snow was ridiculous, we asked all the same.
Now, if you follow rule 1 and 2, people won't hesitate to lend it to you because they know they'll get it back. It's when you have to think 'do I really want to give away aka lend' depending on the borrower, that will have everyone thinking twice.
Don't ruin someone's generous and kind nature for the rest of us.
