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Before you lend

What are the risks of lending to someone you know?

The money may not come back, and the relationship may carry the cost. Both risks are manageable if named early.

4 min readFinancial explainerUpdated 2026-06-15

The short answer

The main risks are late or missing repayment, awkwardness in the relationship, and unclear terms that neither person remembers the same way.

The short answer

The main risks are late or missing repayment, awkwardness in the relationship, and unclear terms that neither person remembers the same way.

  • Money risk: the amount may come back late, in part, or not at all.
  • Relationship risk: unspoken expectations turn into resentment.
  • Clarity risk: two honest people can remember the same conversation differently.
Related: why clear terms protect relationshipsWhy clear terms protect relationships

Key takeaway

The main risks are late or missing repayment, awkwardness in the relationship, and unclear terms that neither person remembers the same way.

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