Quack, quack, quack. Quack, quack, quack.
When do I get my money back?
—Drakestail
Drakestail is an old fairy tale about a little duck who lends a sizeable amount of money to the king. After a couple of years he gets uneasy because the king has made no attempt to pay him, so Drakestail is off to get the money back, picking up new friends along the way. Each time he acquires a new one and they continue on the journey, the duck says
Quack, quack, quack. Quack, quack, quack.
When do I get my money back?
I’ve been thinking of those lines a lot the past couple of days as I try to get a refund from an online company. I’m guessing I will get it eventually, and in the meantime the lines keep me cheerful.
Andy learned the lines from Let’s Pretend, a radio program he listened to on Saturday mornings when he was little. As I recall, he taught the lines to Kaitlin and me when she was foolish enough to borrow money from him. He kept reminding her with “Quack, quack, quack. Quack, quack, quack…” After she paid him back she decided it was easier to save up money ahead of time than to be pestered.
What about you? How do you feel about borrowing money?
March 19, 2014
I loath it. I also loath lending money and going quack quack after it. I don’t indulge in either. I can get away with the latter because everyone knows that I am now on my last legs/bank balances.
The only thing I used to lend was books. Almost no one ever returned them, so I gave up lending and just gave them as gifts.
I’ve never heard of that tail, but from the short bit you’ve included here, I can relate.
So far as borrowing money, we try not to. Our only debt is our motorhome.
Loaning money… 🙁 Right now, that’s a touchy subject.
I’m sorry you’re having bad experiences with lending money. We’ve managed to avoid that, but it must be hard if someone you care about needs money.
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” Polonius said that to his son. (Shakespeare) Good advice. We do that, except lending to our “kids”.
This is for you tammyj:
http://www.wimp.com/banjoboys/
i watched it again!
i watched it on the other post you left it on too. that little guy is AMAZING!
well… and his brothers too. but he is just so cute. and perched on that bed.
you’d think it would even be too uncomfortable. LOLOL.
i like blue grass.
just not so loud as to drown out the baby elephant’s splashing of the water and her delighted little calls she was making! i mainly wanted to hear HER!
the banjo music was happy though. very fitting for the video.
just toned down would have been more for me. thanks bhb!
Your “except” is what the the touchy subject is for us.
I agree tammyj. They don’t play banjo bluegrass in India so it didn’t fit the sweet elephant video. I get carried away with that music. I can’t help myself. 😀
The sound is adjustable.
I always liked that advice from Polonius. Made sense to me.
what a sweet story! both the duck’s and kaitlin’s and andy’s.
i never loan money. i give it. with never any strings.
that way… there’s no disappointment on either end. only still friendship.
i like that idea … “pay it forward.” it’s a good thing.
as to refunds from big companies or corporations…. a pain in the pocketbook.
good luck! at least you have a wonderful monkie attitude about it.
that’s monkie as in great wise attitude…
not monkey as in mischievous little fur person!
xo
The rule for lending is the same as investing in the stock market, never lend money you can’t afford to lose. And as you say, it’s easier just to give it if you can.
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” has always been my motto too. I’ve always tried to live within my means, and the only time I’ve ever borrowed is for mortgages. And like Tammy I never lend money because so often getting it back is a pain in the arse. I prefer to give small amounts without caring if I get them back or not.
Agreed! We’ve always lived below our means. I also appreciated things more if I had saved up for it.
it’s an extremely touchy subject for me… a past loan gone very, very bad 🙁 and I have no desire to really discuss it with anyone, because time has marched on! Occasionally it pops up in family but in the main it is buried. I had to give up all hope of it returning to my coffers, I have even forgotten the exact amount, unless I look up back papers…it made it easier!
I’m sorry you had a bad experience. As you say, chalk it up to experience and try to let it go.
Except for a mortgage, I don’t like borrowing money. But I love your story!!!!
The only time Andy and I borrowed money was when we bought our first 40 acres. The fellow who sold it to us gave us a great interest rate and pointed out our savings account was paying a lot more — it was in our interest to pay it off slowly. We still paid it off as soon as we could, because we wanted to own the land free and clear.
Cautious.
Rule of thumb: Am I willing to give it? If not be cautious about lending it.
I agree!
Dear dog in heaven. Can’t believe the comments. At least it’s taught me not to ever ask any of you to lend me a fiver.
The last time I came across what is a truly awful line “never lender nor borrower be” was when I was short of a Pound Sterling (had locked myself out of the house). Walked into car repair shop close by. Credentials (as to my identity at hand). One pound. Promised to hand it back the next day. “Never borrower nor lender be”, the owner said. I have no respect, none whatsoever for meanness. In fact, I despise those who have but won’t give. I did go back there the next day. Pound coin in hand (the one he had denied me) and put it into the ‘charity’ box on his counter. I hope he felt shame. And if he didn’t, and he won’t have, then shame on him.
Money is fluid. Don’t sit on it. And don’t forget: Sometimes even YOUR money might turn into water in the sand. Then who will give you a sip off their water bottle?
As to parents: My father never ‘lent’ money to his children. When he had it he GAVE it. Unconditionally. Unfortunately he doesn’t have any any longer.
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It sounds like you didn’t read the comments carefully. Most of us are saying it’s easier to give money than to lend it.