Money Moral Dilemma: Should my neighbour pay half the cost of replacing the saw they often borrow?

grassmarket

retired19 said:

Why not be radical. Buy yourself a new saw and give the old one to the neighbour. Explain that means he won't have to ask you for a loan anymore as he's now got his own saw. (I assume it's still working just not as well as it did). That way you have a new saw which you would have had to buy anyway, you don't have to loan it out and he can use the old one that otherwise you would have had to dispose of. Best of all you stay on good terms as he thinks you're very generous 

I agree. But if the old one doesn’t work, or he doesn’t seem that impressed with the idea - think carefully before suggesting a shared purchase. What if the new one ends up ‘living’ at his house & you end up feeling like you’re having to ask to borrow HIS saw all the time? What if one of you moves?
It’s not worth falling out with a close neighbour over a saw. 

moneyrob2

You really shouldn’t burn pallet wood

[Deleted User]

No, I don’t think what you have suggested is reasonable under the circumstances. You have agreed on each occasion to lend your neighbour the saw, apparently with no strings attached. You could at any point have mentioned that you wished them to go halves with you on a new one when it needed replacing, but you didn’t. Therefore it’s your responsibility I’m afraid. 

Having said this, if I were in your neighbour’s shoes I would at least offer. If s/he doesn’t offer to help out with the cost of a new one it’s quite simple … just don’t lend it out to your neighbours any more!

Needtotalk

I think I would buy a new one, then tell my neighbour to do the same. You’ll never have the dilemma again!

MsMoon

I agree with another reply which suggested you say something like "hey, fancy going halfs on a new saw because mine's broken,  We've both worn it out". I would add that if he refuses - which he probably will as he was too tight to buy his own in the first place, then defnitely do NOT let on when you buy a new one and avoid lending him the new saw (or anything else of value) again.

deirdrechristina

Just a thought, if it is electric and he has a serious accident with it, would that be covered by your insurance as the saw belonged to you?

MsMoon

[Deleted User] said:

No, I don’t think what you have suggested is reasonable under the circumstances. You have agreed on each occasion to lend your neighbour the saw, apparently with no strings attached. You could at any point have mentioned that you wished them to go halves with you on a new one when it needed replacing, but you didn’t. Therefore it’s your responsibility I’m afraid. 

Having said this, if I were in your neighbour’s shoes I would at least offer. If s/he doesn’t offer to help out with the cost of a new one it’s quite simple … just don’t lend it out to your neighbours any more!

You are missing the point completely - when he lent the neighbour the saw before it was working, so there was no need to have a conversation about going halves!! It is now not working as it should and it needs replacing so the situation has changed. I doubt that the neighbour will chip in anyway as he is too tight to have bought his own saw in the past, therefore IMO the OP should not be lending him the new saw if he does replace it.

CRN

Definitely put the ball in their court and let them know it's their turn to purchase the tool or share the cost of a replacement.  If they refuse then it's time to end your generosity in sharing and they can decide the best action to take.

Southendormargate

I can't believe you are seriously asking this. How petty can you be?

[Deleted User]

MsMoon said:

[Deleted User] said:

No, I don’t think what you have suggested is reasonable under the circumstances. You have agreed on each occasion to lend your neighbour the saw, apparently with no strings attached. You could at any point have mentioned that you wished them to go halves with you on a new one when it needed replacing, but you didn’t. Therefore it’s your responsibility I’m afraid. 

Having said this, if I were in your neighbour’s shoes I would at least offer. If s/he doesn’t offer to help out with the cost of a new one it’s quite simple … just don’t lend it out to your neighbours any more!

You are missing the point completely - when he lent the neighbour the saw before it was working, so there was no need to have a conversation about going halves!! It is now not working as it should and it needs replacing so the situation has changed. I doubt that the neighbour will chip in anyway as he is too tight to have bought his own saw in the past, therefore IMO the OP should not be lending him the new saw if he does replace it.

As you will see if you re-read my original post this morning, I said “You could at any point have mentioned that you wished them to go halves with you on a new one WHEN it needed replacing” - in other words, IF it needed replacing. I think you missed my point completely.