On Money Etiquette and Rules

Song Prompt Wednesday!

"Give me my money back, I want my money back you bitch." Ben Folds Five, Song For the Dumped.

I love this line.

It is perfect for breakups, but it also applies to other areas of life.

My friend and I were talking the other day about money etiquette between friends and friendly acquaintances.

In the world of playgroups money, goods, and services are frequently exchanged. Most of these transactions go off without a hitch. Mostly because most people use common sense and courtesy and pay when they are given the goods or service.

But there is always some rebel that has to buck this tried and true system.

Whether it is a sob story about lack of funds, a lost checkbook, or no cash on hand, goods get exchanged without payment.

When this happens the best thing to do is for the negligent party to set up a payment time. "I will paypal you tonight." "I will bring the check when I see you on Tuesday." Pretty simple. I should not be the payee's job to ask the payor for this information, in a shiny happy world this should be offered freely as a remedy.

Wonk, wonk, wonk. Oh no! Someone has forgotten to follow either of the first 2 steps! It has been 2 weeks and more payee has still not heard hide nor hair of payor and their loot!

What do we do now?

Now poor payee has to go tell payor that they would like to be paid. This is really stinky. No one likes to be a debt collector. Even people that get paid to be debt collectors usually don't like their job. Now payor has made payee sad. :(

The least payor can do when reminded that they need to pay up is to be nice, acknowledge the debt, and then return to step 2. Make payment arrangement.

Here is what not to do:

1. Say, "Oh, I thought I paid you." Because you know that you didn't.
2. Say, " I was just waiting til you asked!" Rude.
3. Say, "Aliens have stolen all my money, can I pay you next year?" Oy.

An additional and more advanced what not to do:

If you are given something at a reduced rate or free based on self proclaimed poverty it is rude to sell that item for more then the amount it was given to you for. For example: If I sell you a thingamajig for 50 dollars because you told me you could not afford 75, it is rude to list the crib at 75 when you go to sell it. At the very least if you are going to do this, make sure it is in a marketplace that the person that did you a a favor does not frequent.

Follow these rules and everyone can exchange goods and services with ease!