Dear Queenie,
My brother-in-law keeps borrowing things from me, like tools or my weed-whacker, but when he returns them they are not in good condition, that is, if he returns them at all which he often doesn’t do until I get after him for them because I need them myself.
Queenie, how do I refuse to lend him anything anymore without being rude?—Had it up to here
Dear Had it,
When he asks to borrow something, just tell him as pleasantly as you can manage, “Sorry, I’ll be needing it myself” or “Sure, just as soon as you return (the last thing(s) he borrowed).” If there is more than one item outstanding, feel free to hand him a list. And feel free to hand him a bill for the cost of repairing or replacing anything that was returned damaged.
