Redditor Says Their Friend Keeps “Borrowing” Money — And Now Everyone’s Split On Whether They’re The Real Villain

A 23-year-old Redditor recently explained that they’ve been close to their friend Ella, 25, for several years and have always seen her as one of their most trusted people. They spend a lot of time together, and the Redditor genuinely thought the friendship was steady, supportive, and drama-free.

But things shifted when Ella started asking for small amounts of money, usually $20 or $40 for gas or groceries. At first, the OP didn’t think much of it, because helping a friend occasionally felt normal and harmless.

Over the past year, though, the requests became more frequent, and the amounts started creeping higher. The Redditor noticed that repayment was becoming inconsistent, often late, and sometimes not happening at all unless they kept reminding her.

The breaking point came a couple of weeks ago when Ella asked for $300, calling it an urgent situation that she desperately needed help with. The OP lent it to her again, but when they said they needed it back by the end of the week, Ella got irritated and lashed out.

She accused the OP of acting like a bank and said real friends don’t “keep score of favors,” which hit the Redditor hard. The OP didn’t see this as scorekeeping at all but simply trying to protect themselves financially.

So the Redditor set a boundary, telling Ella they could only lend money for true emergencies from now on and that repayment deadlines needed to be respected. Ella immediately became upset, accusing the OP of being cold and untrusting.

Now the friend group is divided, with some saying the Redditor was too harsh and should’ve let it slide to avoid drama. Others, however, believe the OP finally did the right thing by standing up for themselves and setting a much-needed boundary.

Over the past year, though, the requests became more frequent, and the amounts started creeping higher.

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Here's the original post by Reddit user 'Various_Score1523'.

I’ll go straight at it, so I’m 23 and my friend Ella is 25F, we’ve have been really close for a few years now, We hang out very frequently and I’ve always thought of her as one of my closest people. The problem here is, she’s gotten into the habit of asking me for money begging with little amounts at first, like $20 here or $40 there for gas or groceries. I didn’t mind at first because I figured friends help each other out. But over the past year it’s gotten more frequent and has become her habit, now the amounts have grown. Sometimes she pays me back late, especially after I ask her over and over sometimes not at all. A couple of weeks ago she asked me for $300 she said it was really urgent at the point. I fell for it again and gave it to her, but when I reminded her that I needed it back by the end of the week, she got annoyed. She told me I was acting like a bank and that real friends don’t keep “score of favors” That struck a nerve , because I don’t see it as keeping scores, I just can’t afford to keep floating her like this. So I confronted and told her that from now on, I will only lend money in real emergencies, and I’d need her to promise to payback on whenever we agree on. All of a sudden she got upset and accused me of being cold and not trusting her. Now some of our mutual friends are saying I’m being too harsh and should’ve just let it go to avoid drama, while others think I’m right to set a boundary. AITA for putting my foot down?

Here's how the Reddit community reacted.

NotAtAllExciting

"Givers have a limit. Takers don't."

Puzzleheaded-Fly7632

"Give her some names."

Such-Problem-4725

"Stop lending her money."

miss_chapstick

NTA.

Best_Current_8379

"Now ya know."

Free-Place-3930

You're buying her time.

Old-guy64

It's just an excuse.

icecreampenis

"You are done."

lovescarats

"She is using you."

Fluffy_Fox_9650

"You can't afford to keep floating her."

jillian512

"YTA to yourself."

crownbee666

She's very brazen.

Dry_Day8844

In the end, the OP’s story is a reminder that even strong friendships can wobble when money enters the mix. But standing up for your own limits isn’t cold — it’s how healthy relationships survive, and sometimes a well-placed boundary is exactly what keeps things from falling apart.