Some friendships become strained and even break apart for the most absurd reasons, and money is one of them. In a recent survey, 21% of respondents admitted to losing friends because of money-related issues.
The story you’re about to read is part of that statistic. A woman could not board an airplane and join her friends on a vacation because she had something illegal in her possession. However, as the others decided to proceed as planned, she got upset with them and demanded they pay back her share of the expenses.
The story’s author considers paying the disgruntled friend to keep the peace but wonders if such actions would be right. Scroll down for the full story.
Money issues can strain the relationship between friends
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A woman was unable to board a plane with her friends for a planned vacation
Image credits: Image-Source / envato (not the actual photo)
When the group decided to proceed as planned, the woman wanted them to pay back her expenses
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Refusing to provide financial support to a friend can lead to cracks in the relationship
Image credits: RDNE Stock project / pexels (not the actual photo)
Based on the author’s account, the woman put herself in a tight spot because she had something illegal on her. In that scenario, there is no one to blame but her.
However, refusing to support a friend financially, like what the group did, is a common reason for strained relationships. Debt.com says friendships can deteriorate and even fall apart if you refuse to help during desperate times.
Many may disagree with the belief that money is the root of all evil. However, people won’t hesitate to end a friendship if $500 is on the line. That’s according to a survey from Bank of America, where 40% of the respondents also said they would cut ties with someone if the disagreement involved $100.
As relationship therapist Simone Bose told Refinery29, “Money is an emotional issue,” and discussing it among friends shows vulnerability. It can explain why the tension between the entire group appears to be long-standing at this point.
Managing emotions is one way to keep money issues from affecting friendships
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The woman became irate about her friends’ decision to go without her, even if her ill-advised choices caused her to miss the trip. She may have let her disappointment get to her, lashing out at everyone.
In this scenario, trying to have a broader understanding of the situation could have helped avoid the ongoing rift. According to financial therapist Amanda Clayman, “money is subjective,” and trying to impose a “reality” different from someone else’s could lead to a touchy conversation.
In the story, the woman expected everyone to shoulder the expenses without considering each one’s financial situation.
“Maybe they’re making different choices with their money,” Clayman told Vox. “Maybe they’re focused on a goal, or maybe they have three times as much in student loans.”
The author did explain that they are on a tight budget because of recurring bills, and paying for their friend’s missed vacation may put them a month behind their payoff plan.
None of the people in the friend group are obligated to agree to all of the woman’s demands. But as a compromise, they could reimburse her for her supposed accommodation.
What do you think, readers? Should the author pay the amount to avoid escalating the issue further?
The author provided more details in their answers to commenters’ questions, but most of them sided against the woman
