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I don't give anything expecting to get it back.  If I can't afford to give money (or things) and not be repaid, I don't give it.  I learned the lesson the hard way.  I had saved up my car registration money a few months in advance.  My sister asked if I could loan her money for her car registration.  I went ahead and did it, and she promised me she would get the money back to me within 3 months when my car registration was due.  Well 8  months later, she still hadn't paid me back, and acted like I was trying to rob her when I kept bugging her to pay me back.  Lesson learned, if I can't afford to throw the money down the drain, I don't lend it.  At that point I was in school full time at night, working full time during the day, paying for college myself.  I didn't have extra except when I had saved for something like an upcoming bill.  Then she couldn't even pay it back so I could pay my bill on time.  
  Same thing with loaning family and friends expensive home machines, like bissell carpet cleaners.  Loaned said machine in perfect condition to my brother, who trashed it.  Came back filthy, with many broken parts.  Don't loan things anymore either after several other similar occurrences.
  Also, don't loan computer disks to family so they can repair their own computers ... they lose them.  I'll come fix their stuff for them, but not loan them disks.  I end up having to buy a new one if I do.
  I do often buy groceries or other stuff like vet bills for my siblings, but only when I know I'm okay never seeing the money again.  I shouldn't have to harass someone to pay me back when I loan them money, and it certainly shouldn't take 8 months to get money back.  If I borrow money, I return it as soon as possible (but haven't had to in a long time). When someone loans me something, I take care of it like it's my own, and return it in a timely manner in the same condition it was in when I got it.  It's irritating that others can't do the same.   Especially family.