A big part of college life is going out with your friends, ordering in with your team after a game, or getting late-night meals while you’re up the night before your finals studying. With this comes great memories full of laughter and fun, but it’s also easy to remember how no one paid you back for putting in the order. With one look at your bank account, this memory of staying up with your friends turns into a sense of frustration over not being able to get your money back.
Although people have different boundaries when it comes to how much they are willing to pay for others, it is important to remember that if you do want to be paid back, you should ask if someone has not. Unfortunately, this is not always the easiest thing because it can come off in a tone that is not intended. But since there is validity to what is being asked, a kind tone in support of your action should result in no relationships going awry and an up-to-status bank account.
There are also other systems that groups of people can use to ensure that there is fairness in how everyone is paying. One of them is splitting the bill, but it is possible that either the group is too large to do so or the restaurant or food establishment does not allow it. Luckily, there are other more reliable methods that are effective, which is to request those who need to pay money. This is an easy and non-rude way to go upon asking people to pay you back. Most of the time, it is possible to include a description of what the money is being paid for or requested for, so this will allow any potential confusion or forgetfulness about what the money’s for. This is available on many apps on which you can pay others or get paid by others. It is important to make sure that these apps are reliable, safe, and trustworthy.
Also, it is important to keep receipts of how much everyone owes you. Although you may get the physical paper that has the receipt information on it, it is good to take a picture of it to make sure that you have it for the future. Also, if there is any additional tax or tip added to the overall payment, make sure to factor that into the price that you charge others. This could create some confusion over why someone is being charged more money than what their meal actually costs. So, it is important to do the calculations and send them to them if they are confused, or you can just send it right off the bat in a group chat with everyone to avoid unnecessary worries.
Overall, money is something that comes and goes, and if someone still has not paid you back and you’re expecting them to do so, it is important and a sign of self-respect to ask for it. This obviously does not need to be done in any sort of manner that is harsh or rude, but rather by utilizing methods such as kindly asking them or requesting them for money at the correct amount and with an accurate description. Asking for people to give you money can be a tricky situation to be in, especially if they are your friends since it can feel awkward. But, it is important to remember that this is common for many college students to face because of the environment and circumstances that take place. So next time you pay for the group, don’t hold yourself back from reminding those people who did not pay you back, as there can also just be a possibility that they have just forgotten.
