Is she a friend?

United States
November 19, 2007 6:18am CST
I have a friend who has been my friend for a very long time. She only calls me if she needs money or advice. We talk only three times out of the month but every time it has been about advice to help her out or to donate money to her. I mean donate because she never returns it. I don't ask for it because I am afraid it might break our friendship but is it a friendship or am I just donating to a lost cost? What would you do? Do you have a friend or family member who does this?
7 people like this
23 responses
19 Nov 07
I would not call her a friend. It seems to me that she is just using you for what she can get out of you. I have had friends like this and I say goodbye to them. There is nothing wrong in helping friends out, but if this is the only thing you are doing, then this is not a friendship. If I were you, I would tell her to get some other mug to give her money and advise! Good luck
• United States
20 Nov 07
Thank you for your comment. Yeah, I think I will tell her to go find someone else to be an ATM machine. What I don't want is confrontations I hate those. But she really don't know how to be a friend.
20 Nov 07
I think that if you just tell her how you feel, she may realise what she has done and if not, then its her loss. I hate confrontation too, but at the end of the day she has no right to treat you like this. Good luck in your decision
• United States
10 Dec 07
Thank you for your great response dear...Have a good nite....
9 Dec 07
This is not a friend ; it's just someone that you know. She's using you big time and you should put a stop to it. A friend would keep in touch; do things for you; and wouldn't take advantage of you. It would be better if you broke the tie and not allow it to continue any longer.
• United States
10 Dec 07
That is very true...It doesn't feel good to be used. I hate to be taken advantage of. The money part doesn't hurt half as much as feeling that the person only wants to be friends to get stuff from me........
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
20 Nov 07
For rare emergencies or catastrophes, one should definitely help out a friend financially. But what she's doing to you is habitual. She has become dependent on you and she's not going to stop until you yourself are flat broke. She is what we call a "friendly user", or a "bloodsucker". I suggest you find a way to avoid her. Move out of town and don't give her your new address.
• United States
21 Nov 07
Thanks for the comment. Moving out of town is kinda too dramatic for us right now. Most of my family is here and my children have their friends here. We kinda made our roots grown here already. It's very hard.
@MagieL (266)
• China
20 Nov 07
i don't think she is your friend,if she think you are her friend,she shouldn't do as this.you should find a good friend who really good to you.^^
• United States
21 Nov 07
Yeah, I agree. Thank you for your response. Take care.
@khateya (263)
• Australia
20 Nov 07
How do you define the word friend to you? a friend who never think about you and just look for benefit? she treat you like a money machine who she can turn to only when she has problem. U can make your decision by just turn to her and ask for hlep !!! how will she react to your proposal? will she help you as you help her?
• United States
21 Nov 07
Hmm interesting, I never asked her for $. Maybe if I did ask her I might be able to get a good response. I don't know if that would work though but hey I will give it a try. I will let you know okay.
@raizza07 (98)
• Philippines
20 Nov 07
none so far. i think she's not a friend but a companion. dont be afraid to tell her whats on your mind negative or positive its better that your honest to her than stay in a friendship that you have doubt.
• United States
20 Nov 07
True, thank you for your comment.
@mansha (6298)
• India
20 Nov 07
She may not be friend of you but obviously you are hers. May be she knows that you understand her and will always help her out. You can see it as taking advantage of your goodness too but may be she has no one else to turn to except you. May be she is comfortable in pouring out her aunt too. Sometimes when the world walks out -a friend s the only person you can turn to. If you think its big deal then may be you can turn her out too , choice is always with you.
• United States
20 Nov 07
She doesn't have anyone else. Everyone already abandon her. She can get on your nerve really fast. But for me I deal with it better than most people would. She was once a good friend and knew how to be a friend. But she drop off on the wrong path so to speak.
@subha12 (18441)
• India
20 Nov 07
i don't think she is a truw friend of yours. She uses you as her friend in need,. I have myself seen this type of people. there was a guy who used to call me and talk very politely with me when he needed money or something. But when he realised taht he won't get that much anymore, he behaved very badly with me and now in no contact.
• United States
20 Nov 07
wow, at least you know now and it is a good thing his out of your life. I am hearing that it would be good for me too if I cut her off of my life too and have no contact with her as well.
• Canada
19 Nov 07
This is not a friend--she is just using you. If I were you I will not even hesitate one minute to cut her off. This is not a friendship because that's a two-way street--this is completely one sided, in her favour not yours. Just keep in mind: if you want to donate to a charity, make sure it is one that will give you a receipt for tax purposes, not one where your money gets lost down the deep dark hole of no return! Good luck to you....
• United States
20 Nov 07
Thank you for your comment. Yeah I believe after hearing so many people telling me this I believe it is finally going to sink in and I will cut off our friendship.
• Singapore
20 Nov 07
how can i say u~~~~ she is not your friend, she just want to use you~~~~ i think as a friend, it is very important to communication and help, but the help not only for need money like this,
• United States
20 Nov 07
I did open up my line of communication, that is why she always call me for help hehe. I do make small mentions of how I can't keep giving her money. But it seems to go in one ear out the other.
@nkhanna (922)
• India
20 Nov 07
well even i had been in such circumstance many time. i do give money to some friends but they never return it.on top of that they even ask for more money.i will tell you she is certainly not a good friend of yours.its good to help friends ,however in good friendship the friend will definately return the money on the time assured and she will be very pparticular about the date as well.SO beaware of such friends.they are not the ones who will help you in need.
• United States
20 Nov 07
Yeah, she has change from whom she use to be. Thanks for your comment.
@dayzz25 (552)
• United States
20 Nov 07
I wouldn't call her a friend. A friend is someone that would pay you back if they borrowed money, would call you just to see how you are doing, try to make time to visit with you and I could go on. I don't have very many people that I call friend. A friend is a very special person. This girl sounds like she is taking advantage of you because she knows you will let her. I'm not mean enough to tell someone I didn't want to be there friend (or her bank...lol) so I would just avoid her calls and she will soon get the point, especially since she just wants to take your money and advice but doesn't care about you and what's going on in your life. Good luck.
• United States
20 Nov 07
Thank you for your comment.
@hhhxxccc (222)
• United States
19 Nov 07
It really depends on the situation in more details. But i wouldn't exactly consider her a "best friend" from what i'm going on, but I believe that if someone needs your help, why not do some good and help her out if you can :)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Well, she has two kids and they sometimes need money for diapers or what not and she would give me a call. I know feel bad at times so I do give in. I did help her out-a lot. I am just finally getting tired of it. Maybe because it is due to the economy and the fuel prices but the extra money for entertainment and such has run dry. I can fork out extras for her anymore. Frankly, I was starting to get really upset with her. From this forum everyone seems to agree that she is someone that needs to take the exit door out of my life. Thank you for your post.
@meespr (3)
• United States
20 Nov 07
I hate to say it, but she's taking you to the cleaners. You should kick her to the curb ASAP. Be nice about it, but a real friend is a friend in good times and bad, not just when you need something. There comes a time when you have to re-evaluate the fundamental assumptions about a friendship, and this is probably one of them. If it were me, I'd give her a choice. "Either we start acting like friends or you can find yourself another 'friend' to give you money". I think it'd be an excellent example for your kids to learn that some people will take advantage of others' kindness and you HAVE to draw the line somewhere. I know it sounds kinda harsh, but it's the honest thing to do.
• United States
20 Nov 07
Yeah that is what most of the people in here are saying too. So, I pretty much agree myself. Thanks for your comment.
@anup12 (4177)
• India
19 Nov 07
I think friend in need is a friend indeed saying is coming true for your friend. But I think you should seriously think about it as she might be fooling you around.
• United States
20 Nov 07
She has been fooling me around. I know but I guess I got too comfortable with her being part of my life.
• Italy
19 Nov 07
She's not a friend. She's someone who wants to have beneficts from her friendship with you.
• United States
20 Nov 07
Yeah I agree. Thanks for your comment.
@eyewitness (1575)
• Netherlands
19 Nov 07
She is not a friend.If she were to be a true friend she would also call and visit you to have fun with you to talk about fun stuff and not always wanting something from you. What if you would call her only when you need something how would you call it? I think you would call it using your friend. I had a friend who used me for and in the end she betrayed me by sleeping with my boyfriend. It's better to not be friends anymore or to confront her with her actions,because honey she's using you Major.
• United States
20 Nov 07
OMG, no way. Thank goodness my husband thinks of her as a S**t. I don't think she can betray me in that path but I hear what you mean she can do it in something else. She does call me out once in a blue moon but yeah she is a user. Thank you for your comment.
@bing_r77 (237)
• Philippines
19 Nov 07
i guess she is only using you. is she not ashamed of not paying you of what she borrows? why wont you ask her to pay you? dotn be soo good. learn to say no if she asks for money again.. i guess she's a friend but not the truest of friends..
• United States
20 Nov 07
She don't know the meaning of shame. I feel bad for her and her kids. I don't ask for it not because I don't need or want it back. I have kids to feed myself. But I just feel she needs it more and I can spare that much. But my tank is running dry. Man with fuel prices up the roof any spare change would have to go toward that.
1 person likes this
• India
19 Nov 07
she is not your real friend because she is using u. remember one thing friendship has no limit so it cant be broken.
• United States
20 Nov 07
Thank you for your comment.
@Maddie03 (28)
• Canada
19 Nov 07
I dont think i would consider this person a friend in my opinion, to me a friend is someone who wants to see you happy and would do everything in there power to make that happen. Your friend may not realize how much this is bothering you and of course continue doing it. I think you should talk to her in a friendly manner and just let her know whats on your mind. If it does ruin your friendship then she probably wasnt the greatest friend to have anyways. I can tell my friends anything whether it be something that they are doing that is bothering me or whatnot and never have i lost a friend because of it. You have to remember people like honesty and would rather be told their doing something that is bothering someone than to continue doing it. More often than not people are just unaware of the affects of their actions on others and just need to be reminded every once in awhile :) Cheers! -m
• United States
20 Nov 07
I agree, maybe that is what keeps me in this friendship. I don't really believe she is aware of her actions. What she does and how she feels are sometimes different. I remember times back in the days when my folks and I would get into arguments and she would be there to hear me out.