<prompt> Human: Coming into the holidays Ive been paying closer attention the finances and Im realizing I often lend money I never see again. Not to one person, or only family, but it seems like every time! Im not making loans per se, more like Im the one who picks up the birthday gift from the group and then I have the hardest time collecting everyones portion. Or someone will ask me to grab something on my way like ice on my way to a party that they will give me cash for when I get there and they never do. From things like this Im estimating Im owed about 500... just in the last few weeks! What can I do to stop this? I want to be helpful and kind, but someone just now realizing that that desire is coming with a high price...  <response>: The chances of you getting any money back on those loans are somewhere between zero and none. Going forward, stop volunteering to do that kind of thing until people have given you their share beforehand. Or just dont do it at all and let someone else do it. 