Old friend wants money for cigarettes. What should I say?

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OP stated the desire to share their faith. If they their “friend” wants a pack of smokes then there’s the opportunity.
 
So you haven’t talked to her in years and she texts you out of the blue to ask you for money?

Anyway you slice it, that is not normal behavior.

I see some posters encouraging that you use this as an opportunity for evangelization. That’s all well and good, but that would rest a lot more on what your relationship was like in the past and how you think that’s likely to go. Someone who is just hitting you up for cigarette money after not having spoken to you in years is not likely to be a receptive audience.

For me, I’d never buy cigarettes for anyone under any circumstances, so it would be easy for me to say no.

I think starting off a renewed friendship with a “loan” of money is a recipe for disaster. It’s not starting things off on a good note. It’s far more likely to end poorly. From the start, there would be an imbalance, and you’d be setting the expectation that you are an affable source of emergency income for all her future needs.

If you want to still use this as an opportunity for reigniting your friendship, then that’s your prerogative. But I’d still say “no” to this request. Be friends first.
 
Michael98 said:
she said she respects that,but reminded me it would just be a one time thing.
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Just a one time thing ha ha ahha ha ha !!! oooohhhhhh man 😅 that’s a good one !!!

Stay the hell away from her - don’t be a sap.
Don’t let the devil get his foot in your door jamb -
Do yourself a favor - nip it in the bud ! Now !
Put your foot down - down fall for the bait -
DON’T be played - delete her number -
 
QwertyGirl said:
If she is texting, she has a cell phone. Tell her to use her cell phone money for her cigarettes.
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Yes. A thousand times yes.

I think this sort of stuff all the time about a lot of things like this. On a very broad scale. I have a feeling you know exactly what I mean and exactly how far my thoughts go.

OP - this shouldn’t even be a question. In the words of Nancy Reagan - just say no.
 
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Say no. Nothing wrong with buying cigarettes, but it’s the principle at stake here. Just say you can’t help, because you have other financial priorities.

Or use my excuse. “I’m sorry, I just don’t have any free money.”
 
Hey Michael 🙂
If you could reply to posts in your thread that would help you in the long run.
By now you should be able to have received enough good advice.
God bless.
 
Just say no. But if she pushes you, tell her about a wonderful invention called a credit card. You put the cigarettes on the credit card. Once you get paid, you can use the money to pay off the credit card. Credit card companies even give you about 21 days of grace to pay once you’re billed! You can get a second job in those 21 days! It’s all very exciting stuff.
 
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If she’s asking for a loan for a $5-7 pack of cigarettes from someone she’s not talked to in years, I doubt she’s in any position to get plastic.

“No” is the best answer. And a block of the contact.
 
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You don’t need a job to get a credit card. She has a job though. She might get a lower limit, but she’ll get a card. The card should come in 7-10 business days.
 
I’m not talking about a job. You do need a job to get an actual, unsecured credit card, unless your credit score is in the high 700s.

She needs $5 for cigarettes. Can’t imagine someone in that position being able to get a credit card or having the credit score to pull it off - and if she has to borrow five bucks for cigs, why would someone suggest $500 in credit as a solution? It doesn’t strike me as one.
 
I’m curious if the OP has any thoughts on all the suggestions and (name removed by moderator)ut. I imagine by now you have made a firm decision one way or the other on whether or not to give her money.
 
I’m really sorry everyone for my silence. The situation has been dealt with. I read all of your comments and each of them were incredibly helpful. I had been under the impression that the Catholic thing to do was to give selflessly without worrying about its financial impact on me, but I realize now that being a bit more conservative with my money is in her best interests too, not just mine. Thank you all for informing my conscience and helping me to make the best decision. May God bless each and every one of you.

PS: If each of you could say a little prayer for her and her situation, it would mean the world to me!
 
Asking someone you havent spoken to in years for money for cigarettes is super weird. Telling someone you’ll buy them cigarettes if they come to mass is also really, really weird.

Just lots of weirdness all around
 
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