are you are borrower or a lender? why or why not? and what have you lost or hung on to?

i keep saying that i won't lend things out because i have terrible luck getting them back, but in the end, i always feel sorry for someone and do it again and the ugly cycle repeats itself.

my la-*test*-('") adventure involves me having loaned out my glue gun to my stepdaughter about four months ago. i figured, why not? i hardly used it.
that was until i loaned it out and then, i needed to glue *this*, then *that*, then *these*.

i could go hunt it down, but it's the principle of the thing. she should go out of her way to return it after borrowing; i shouldn't have to chase her down.

it remains to be seen whether i'll ever, ever smarten up!

I'd chase her down, ask for the thing back, and never ever lend it out again to her, telling her that next time she has to bring things back sooner, or else you won't lend anything to her anymore without you being there to collect the thing right away. Be firm, or you will be continuously made use of.

But that is me You can borrow something once, but ONLY when I know you well enough (I don't even lend to my neighbors, go figure), and I especially do NOT lend things out that I care enough about to hate seeing them broken.

Currently I am also a borrower, with garden tools. Slowly I am getting the things I need replaced by my own stuff and then my dad suddenly gets this tool shoved in his hands with me saying I don't need it anymore

But yeah.. I am very wary of loaning things to people; I don't even let anyone but my dad (and the maintenance folks) drive my car!