Is it rude to remind someone they owe you?
Short answer, no. A slightly longer answer about how to bring it up so it stays friendly and doesn't feel like a collections call.
Blog
Notes on lending, borrowing and keeping money friendly.
Page 6 of 7
February 2026
Borrowing from your parents as an adult, minus the guilt
Asking Mom or Dad for money in your late twenties can feel like a step backward. It doesn't have to, if you handle it like the adult you are.
When someone pays you back a little at a time
Partial payments can feel slow, but they're usually a good sign. How to keep track kindly without turning into the friend who nags.
The $5 IOU nobody remembers
Tiny debts feel too small to bring up, so they quietly pile up. Over time, they can say more about a friendship than the big ones do.
Valentine's Day and the couple who keeps score
Some new couples track who paid for what down to the dollar. Sometimes that's healthy, and sometimes it quietly stings.
Tax refund season is a good excuse to settle up with friends
If a refund lands in your account this spring, it might be a nice moment to clear those small debts you've been meaning to sort out.
January 2026
How to say no when a friend asks to borrow money
Turning down a friend who needs cash feels terrible. Some kind, honest ways to decline that don't wreck the friendship.
What a no-spend weekend taught me
I tried to spend zero dollars from Friday night to Monday morning. It was easier than I expected in some ways and way more annoying in others.
Should you lend money to family? A gut check
Before you say yes to a relative, a few honest questions worth asking yourself. None of them are about whether you love them.
Why we're so weird about asking for money back
Asking a friend to repay $60 can feel harder than lending it was. A few honest guesses about why, and why the fear is usually bigger than the ask.