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Best of Brakfast Episode 174 Yana Bolder
We’ve all done it.
Whether it’s asking a neighbour for a ladder, borrowing a phone charger at work or pinching a splash of milk because you’ve run out, borrowing is part of everyday life.
Most of the time, it’s a simple favour between friends, family or colleagues. Sometimes it saves the day. Other times… it leads to the age-old question: “Will I ever get that back?”
Here are some of the things we’re all most likely to borrow.
Phone chargers
Few things cause panic quite like seeing your phone battery drop into the red.
If you’ve forgotten your charger, chances are you’ll be asking around the office or hoping a friend has one that fits.
It’s become one of the most borrowed items of modern life.
Tools
Not everyone owns a drill, hedge trimmer or pressure washer.
Why buy something you’ll only use once or twice a year when your neighbour probably has one sitting in the garage?
Of course, borrowing a tool comes with an unwritten rule. Return it in the same condition… preferably cleaner than when you borrowed it.
A cup of sugar… or milk
It might sound like something from an old sitcom, but borrowing everyday kitchen essentials still happens.
Milk, sugar, flour, eggs or butter can all save a recipe when you realise halfway through that you’ve run out.
It’s one of the simplest ways neighbours help each other.
Books
Books have always been shared between friends and family.
The only problem?
It’s surprisingly easy to forget who borrowed what.
Many books disappear onto someone else’s bookshelf, never to return.
Pens
Offices everywhere have the same mystery.
You lend someone a pen for “just a second” and somehow it never finds its way back.
It’s one of life’s great unsolved mysteries.
Clothes
Brothers, sisters, partners and friends have been borrowing clothes for decades.
Sometimes it’s planned.
Sometimes you only realise after spotting your favourite jumper on somebody else.
At least it’s staying in the family… usually.
Gardening equipment
From lawn mowers to secateurs, gardening tools are often shared between neighbours.
It saves money, avoids clutter and means everyone benefits without buying equipment they rarely use.
Extension leads and chargers
Family gatherings often turn into charging stations.
Someone always needs a phone cable.
Someone else wants an extension lead.
By the end of the evening, nobody quite remembers which charger belongs to whom.
Cars
Not everyone borrows a car regularly, but many families have done it at some point.
Whether it’s because someone’s vehicle is in the garage or they need something larger for the weekend, sharing a car can be incredibly useful.
Returning it with a full tank of fuel is usually appreciated.
Time
Perhaps the most valuable thing we borrow isn’t actually an object.
It’s someone else’s time.
A lift to the station.
Help putting up shelves.
Looking after the children for an afternoon.
Feeding the cat while you’re on holiday.
These are the favours that friends, neighbours and family often provide without expecting much in return.
The golden rule
Borrowing works because it’s built on trust.
Whether it’s a book, a ladder or your favourite coffee mug, people are usually happy to help.
Just remember the golden rules.
Return it promptly.
Return it in good condition.
And if someone helps you out, be ready to return the favour one day.
After all, we all need to borrow something from time to time.
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