# Dear Abby: Friend Still Owes Money

> A reader asks how to handle a friend who borrowed thousands and hasn’t repaid.
- Title: Dear Abby: Friend Still Owes Money · New York Post | Shortify
- Summary: A reader asks how to handle a friend who borrowed thousands and hasn’t repaid. A reader wants to recover $4,200 from a friend who borrowed money during…
- Keywords: dear abby, friend, money, repayment, financial hardship, loan, news, entertainment, Dear, Abby, Still, Owes
- Source: New York Post — https://nypost.com/2026/10/16/lifestyle/dear-abby-i-loaned-a-friend-of-mine-thousands-of-dollars-she-still-hasnt-paid-me-back
- Published: 2026-10-16T07:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dear abby, friend, money, repayment, financial hardship, loan, news, entertainment
## Reader loans friend $4,200
A year ago, a supposed friend borrowed $3,000 to get her car back after her husband left the country for visa renewal. She later borrowed $1,200.
## Friend ignores repayment requests
The reader texted the friend about the debt, but she ignores them despite having enough money for family trips.
## Dear Abby’s advice
Dear Abby says the reader should have let it go when lending the money, as it’s rarely a loan but a gift.
## Reader’s emotional struggle
The reader feels sadness over the unpaid debt but wants to recover the money without damaging the friendship.
## Key takeaway

A reader wants to recover $4,200 from a friend who borrowed money during financial hardship but now ignores repayment requests.