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Love to try new things and offer support as wel as recieve. My life is an open book of experiences tht I want to share and hear about yours. I am willing to give my heart to help and be a friend.
Recently received a tannning bed from my parents. Neighbors keep asking to use it and I get along with them great. We borrow things from each other and ask favors, but this is getting out of hand. How do I handle it?
- Asked in reference to 5 Out-of-the-Box Ways to Connect with your Teen, Tween and Young Kids
March 22, 2012 By 29 Answers
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I WAS WONDERING BOUT THAT TOO TARA CUZ IF BIG ITEMS HAVE BEEN SHARED IN THE PAST,THEY WOULD NATURALLY EXPECT TO USE THE TANNING BED.YOU ALSO HAVE TO DRAW THE LINE AT SOME POINT TOO BUT IF SHE IS COMFORTABLE SHARING THE BED I STILL SAY CHARGE A LITTLE FOR ELECTRICITY,BULB REPLACEMENT AND CLEANING SUPPLIES.
ALSO MAKE SURE THEY CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES TOO.I WOULDN’T WANNA CLEAN UP SOMEONES(BESIDES MY KIDS) SWEAT AND GERMS.
AGREE.POWER IS HIGH AND ECONOMY IS SO BAD,WE ALL GOTTA SAVE AS BEST WE CAN.NOTHING WRONG WITH TELLING THEM THAT CUZ IT IS TRUE.
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WAS EVENTUALLY DONE.
AGREE THERE.
THANKS.
YEAH NO FROM THE GETGO.
LOL BORROW YOUR SHOWER AND THOSE BULBS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE AND THE ELECTRIC IS TOO.
YEAH SHOW THEM THE PROOF AND IF CONTINUES TELL THEM THEY CAN PAY THE DIFFERENCE.DO YOU KNOW THESE PEOPLE REALLY WELL?
I agree that this would be uncomfortable. Jeez are the going to wan to borrow the shower next? I think complaining about the electricity bill and cost of the bulbs it the best way. Let them know that you are limiting your own families use if it for those same reasons (even if that’s not true).
well my idea is you tell them that you would rather not let them borrow it. Just to save headache and drama
Me too! It may avoid hurt feelings.
hmmm i read everyones reply and this issue about your neighbors wanting to use your tanning bed.. and i agree with Lisa’s comment.. but i would show them the diference in your electric bill..
get one of the prior bills before the bed.. and then use the present bill and let them know if they wish to use it.. you would consider some $$$ help on paying for your electric bill.. or just come out and say no and not share it anymore..
That makes perfect sense!
Lisa,
That’s a great idea!
That’s a tough one. i think I’d blame energy costs to avoid the situation! lol
I would be kind about it, but explain that you don’t feel comfortable sharing something like this.
What types of items have you borrowed from them in the past? Big items or small ones?
I WOULD CHARGE THEM A FEW DOLLARS EACH TIME.THEY WOULDN’T GET IT FREE AT A TANNING SALON.IT IS ONLY FAIR.YOU COULD CHARGE LIKE A 4TH OF WHAT THEY WOULD PAY AT THE SALON.AFTERALL,YOU PAY THE POWER BILL,PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT LAMPS AND MATERIALS TO KEEP IT CLEAN.
I believe the approach about the strain on your electric bill is about your best option also. Who doesn’t understand about the high cost of electricity. You might even mention that you’re not sure how limited your usage of the machine will be. If you have a good relationship with this neighbor, they should be generous enough to understand and appreciate your feelings about this issue. Good luck.
well, I would say that just a single family use of a personal tanning bed is going to hike up the electric bill but mutiple family use will jack it up even more.perhaps you could just let them know in a nice way that your family’s use is all you can stand right now on your electric bill. i used to take in laundry from a family near me that couldn’t afford to run their own washer and dryer, but the difference in my electric use was astounding,and even though i wanted to help,we couldn’t afford the bill to be so high.hope this helps!
That’s a good point; If you have borrowed big-ticket items from them before it will be harder to say no now…
That is definitely a sticky situation. One, it costs you money in electricity and bulb replacement, etc.. So if you feel uncomfortable for that reason, and don’t want to say so, just say politely that you don’t want to make a habit of sharing with others. Or that the bulbs are expensive to replace and they are about to go out?? Good luck and hope that your relationship with your neighbor remains friendly
!!
What kind of stuff HAVE you shared with your neighbors? Like a broom, a cup of sugar… or bigger stuff like a lawn mower? And another question, who does most of the borrowing? You or them? If you gave us a little more detail, than it might be easier to see how best to handle the situation. I mean, you might say it’s a liability issue… but if you’ve borrowed their car before, than that might come off really one-sided.
It doesn’t sound like to me that they have already used it… I agree it would make it harder to say no, but it sounds like that hasn’t happened yet.
She said her parents gave it to her… not that the neighbors gave it to her.
Sounds a bit strange to me that they keep wanting to use what they gave you!! Good luck!!!!!!
If they haven’t used it, just be all “I don’t really feel comfortable sharing that” and if they have, then say “I’ve thought about it, and I’m not comfortable sharing the tanning bed.”
Make sure you make it all about you and not them, though.
Yes, it will be difficult to turn them down without offending them, so you might want to find a reason that they will understand. Have an honest discussion and see if they can understand your position…good luck…
Yikes! I think that major purchases like that should not be “shared” just because you own it. Almost like a swimming pool. My neighbors have one, but that doesn’t mean that I can use it any time I want to. I think it is great that you have a good relationship with your neighbors and it will probably be hard to tell them not to use it now that they already have. Prayers that they understand.