Money Moral Dilemma: Was I wrong to pay my mate back in fish and chips?

Patjan

Is his friendship worth £5?

astroL

MSE_Kelvin said:

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My mate recently lent me £5. Last week he came over for dinner in the garden, and I'd bought us both fish and chips. He asked if I had the £5 I owed him, and I said that was what I'd spent on his meal. He got upset about me "charging him for food", and said he'd do the same when I next visit him. But we usually cook for each other and don't make each other pay. Was it wrong to pay him back in fish and chips?

Do the decent thing and give him back his money with a smile and an apology.

DanielJames2

MSE_Kelvin said:

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My mate recently lent me £5. Last week he came over for dinner in the garden, and I'd bought us both fish and chips. He asked if I had the £5 I owed him, and I said that was what I'd spent on his meal. He got upset about me "charging him for food", and said he'd do the same when I next visit him. But we usually cook for each other and don't make each other pay. Was it wrong to pay him back in fish and chips?

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MalMonroe said:

MSE_Kelvin said:

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My mate recently lent me £5. Last week he came over for dinner in the garden, and I'd bought us both fish and chips. He asked if I had the £5 I owed him, and I said that was what I'd spent on his meal. He got upset about me "charging him for food", and said he'd do the same when I next visit him. But we usually cook for each other and don't make each other pay. Was it wrong to pay him back in fish and chips?

Yes. He lent you a fiver and you didn't return the fiver. You didn't even ask him if it was okay to buy him fish and chips instead. No wonder he was miffed. 

And this is yet another example of why we shouldn't lend or borrow with friends. Or anyone, if you can help it. Not even such small sums. Trouble ensues. 

Give him his fiver and let's never speak of this again.

Your friend lent you £5. You should pay him back £5. He never asked you for fish and chips

DanielJames2

Your friend lent you that money in good faith. You should pay him back his £5.  He never asked you for fish and chips

justworriedabit

Do people really charge friends for food and I'd don't mean when they own them money?

when you are younger, less money and a group of friends at another friends house, you order a takeaway together that is different but has anyone ever charged a friend for food? Incredible

oldcrochety1

Of course you were wrong! You shoud have returned the money you owed him and not decided how he would want to spend it. I can't believe you're even asking the question!

Sharononline

You know you were wrong! Now pay him back his £5. 

Sea_Shell

WOW, 9 pages of telling someone to give the £5 back to their friend.    

We really all must have far too much time on our hands.      (me included!!)

Is this what we've become....what next.    "Someone dropped 50p in the street and I picked it up.   Should I keep it or hand it in to the police?

hob_nob_bob

Totally wrong. Someone did this to me once - owed me money, asked me out for a meal, then when they paid for the whole meal said that was their way of paying me back. I wouldn't have chosen to go out to eat with that money, and it wasn't for that person to decide that for me. I was less than pleased.

Had you offered to pay back in kind with the fish and chips and your friend accepted, sure, but to do so without even asking them if that would suit them is unacceptable. Pay them back with actual money.

Alanp

Perhaps you should have paid back the fiver and bought your mate fish and chips as a thank you for lending you the money