I Got Tired Of My Neighbor ‘Borrowing’ My Tools, So I Returned The Favor

I’m a pretty easy-going person when it comes to lending things out. If someone needs a hammer, a drill, or even a power washer, I don’t mind letting them borrow it, especially if it’s a neighbor. It’s a nice gesture, and I’ve always believed in being kind and helpful to the people around me. But there’s a line, and when that line gets crossed too many times, you start to feel taken advantage of.

That’s exactly what happened with my neighbor, Greg.

The “Borrowing” Problem

At first, I didn’t think much of it. Greg would ask to borrow one tool here and another there—simple things like a wrench, a ladder, or a saw. He was friendly, and it didn’t bother me too much. I don’t use my tools all the time, so I figured it wasn’t a big deal. But soon, it became a regular thing. Every few weeks, Greg would come over, asking to borrow something else.

“Hey, can I borrow your shovel for a few days?”

“Sure, no problem, Greg.”

A week later, I’d have to walk over to his house to ask for it back. Or, I’d knock on his door, only to find that he “forgot” about it and would return it a few days later. It was a bit inconvenient, but I let it slide. Maybe I was just being too easy-going, or maybe I just didn’t want to be the neighbor who said “no” all the time. Either way, I started to notice a pattern, Greg was “borrowing” things more often than I realized, and the return time kept getting longer and longer.

One day, I really needed a tool, my ratchet wrench. I was working on fixing the brakes on my car, and I had all the parts laid out, ready to go. But when I went to grab the tool, I realized it was gone. I immediately thought of Greg. Sure enough, I went to his house and knocked. He answered with his usual easy smile.

“Oh, I actually borrowed that last week,” Greg said casually. “I loaned it to my buddy, Jimmy. He’s working on a car too. I’ll ask him to bring it back.”

My heart sank. I had never agreed to loan my tools to anyone else. And now, the tool was gone and who knows when I’d see it again?

Time to Give Him a Taste of His Own Medicine

That was the moment when I knew things needed to change. I had been more than patient with Greg, but enough was enough. I wasn’t going to let him continue taking advantage of me. I decided it was time for a little payback.

So, I waited. A few days later, Greg came over, asking to borrow my lawnmower. Of course, I was frustrated, but I kept my cool. This time, I was going to play the game his way, but with a twist.

“Sure, Greg,” I said with a smile, “you can borrow it, but you know, I’ve been lending you my stuff for months now. I think it’s time you return the favor.”

Greg looked at me with a confused expression, but I quickly reassured him. “I’m just kidding. Go ahead, take the mower. It’s all yours.”

He grabbed it and wheeled it back to his yard, none the wiser. I didn’t care about the lawnmower what I cared about was making my point.

The Twist: Keeping the Key

The next day, I made sure to “borrow” something of my own, his keys to the lawnmower. I wasn’t about to let him think I’d forgotten about my tools this time.

I used the lawnmower to mow my front yard, but instead of returning it right away, I simply parked it in my driveway, making sure to leave the keys safely tucked away in my pocket. When Greg came over later, looking for them, I played it off cool.

“Oh, I remember now,” I said casually. “I left the keys with Jimmy. He said he’d drop them off for you.”

Greg’s eyes widened. He didn’t say anything immediately, and I could tell he wasn’t sure whether I was being serious or messing with him. I just smiled and went inside, pretending like it was no big deal.

Later that day, I took the keys and mailed them back to Greg, putting them in an envelope with a short note: “Thanks for letting me borrow your lawnmower. I hope Jimmy didn’t mind delivering the keys back for you!”

The Lesson I Learned

To be honest, I didn’t expect anything to change after my little act of retaliation. I figured Greg would get annoyed, but at least he’d understand what it felt like to be on the receiving end of his behavior.

Surprisingly, the next time I saw him, he didn’t ask to borrow anything. Not once. There was a slight awkwardness between us at first, but it quickly passed. Greg didn’t bring up the lawnmower or the keys, and I didn’t press the issue. He had learned his lesson, even if it wasn’t the direct confrontation I originally envisioned.

Looking back, I don’t feel bad about what I did. Sometimes, people need a little push to understand boundaries, especially when they’ve been taking advantage of your kindness for far too long. I didn’t want to be rude, but I also knew I couldn’t keep letting him walk all over me.

The truth is, I shouldn’t have let things go on for as long as they did. But I’ve learned now that sometimes standing up for yourself requires a little creativity and a dose of humor. The next time someone comes asking to “borrow” something, I’ll be more than ready to set those boundaries firmly from the start.

Boundaries Are Important

The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is how important it is to set boundaries and to not feel guilty about enforcing them. I used to be someone who hated confrontation, who was afraid of coming across as rude or petty. But I’ve realized that there’s nothing wrong with standing up for yourself, especially when someone is repeatedly taking advantage of your kindness.

In the end, I think Greg got the message. And while we’re still neighbors, our interactions are a lot more respectful now. No more borrowing without returning, and certainly no more taking advantage of my generosity.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, don’t wait until you’re fed up to act. Sometimes, the best way to teach someone a lesson is to return the favor on your own terms. And remember, it’s not about being petty; it’s about knowing your worth and setting the boundaries you deserve.