“Friend” Expected Me to Pay for Everything – Even Lied About Venmoing Me Back
In this eye-opening story, a thoughtful dad reflects on the final straw with a long-time friend after being guilt-tripped and financially taken advantage of—again. He recently reconnected with her after having his son, trying to build that “family friends” vibe. She has two boys, is legally still married but emotionally separated from her husband, and seems to treat outings more like dates than casual hangouts.
From constantly expecting him to foot the bill to straight-up lying about Venmoing him after a pricey trip to the fair, it all came to a boiling point. The fair was supposed to be a fun playdate. Instead, it turned into a financial ambush. After dropping over $100 on food alone (with her kids shouting out orders like it was a free-for-all), she admitted she had “no money”—despite ordering everything under the sun and then trying to guilt him into spending more.
After ghosting her for a few days, she wouldn’t stop texting. So, he finally spoke up. And her response? Blame, gaslighting, and calling him greedy for even asking to be repaid. After she accused him of being privileged and unempathetic, he made the decision to block her entirely.
The woman spent the day paying for her friend and her kids at the fair, thinking she’d get the money back
Only to find out her friend never meant to return a cent
Okay, let’s get into it. Because stories like this? They’re way more common than people think.
💸 Financial Boundaries Are Real – Even in Friendships
A lot of us want to be generous. When a friend’s struggling, it feels good to step in and help. Maybe you treat them to lunch. Maybe you cover a few tickets. But that help has limits. And when someone expects it—especially without ever offering to give back—it’s not generosity anymore.
In this story, the “friend” never once treated the relationship like a two-way street. She expected rides, meals, tickets, and even added extra food like it was a buffet paid by someone else. That’s not someone struggling—that’s someone taking advantage.
And here’s the kicker: she lied. She said she left her wallet in the car. Said she’d Venmo him. Then, once the fun was over and the bill was paid, she dropped the “I’m broke and depressed” bomb like that somehow excused everything.
🧠 Emotional Manipulation in Friendships
This isn’t just about money—it’s about emotional manipulation.
Let’s break it down:
- She used pity as a weapon: “I’m depressed… I’m going through a divorce… I don’t have money…”
- She dismissed valid feelings: “You’re holding everything over my head…”
- She reversed the blame: “You think you’re better than me… you don’t know what it’s like to struggle…”
This kind of manipulation works on nice people. People who feel guilty saying no. But here’s the truth: helping someone shouldn’t come at the cost of your peace, your wallet, or your self-worth.
And when she started saying things like, “You don’t need me to pay you back, you’re doing fine,” she crossed into entitled territory. Being in a tough spot doesn’t mean you get to lie or dump your problems on others.
📲 The Venmo Lie and Social Etiquette in 2025
Let’s talk Venmo. Or CashApp. Or Zelle. In today’s world, people use these apps to split everything from brunch to birthday gifts. So when someone says “I’ll Venmo you” and then doesn’t… they’re not just broke. They’re lying.
This friend knew exactly what she was doing. She waited until after the day was done, the food was eaten, and the kids were exhausted before revealing that she had no money—and blamed it on being cut off by her husband.
But it wasn’t just her behavior that was shady—it was also the entitlement. She didn’t apologize. She didn’t try to work out a payment plan. She immediately lashed out and made him the bad guy. That’s not depression talking. That’s deflection.
👨👩👧👦 Being a Parent Doesn’t Make You a Doormat
This dad had a young kid with him. He wasn’t out partying or being flashy. He just wanted a simple playdate. And what he got was a grown adult acting like a child.
When you become a parent, your time, energy, and money become even more precious. So the idea that this woman thought he should fund her AND her two kids—without even asking—is wild. Add to that her guilt-tripping texts and daily calls like nothing happened?
He did the right thing by cutting her off.
✂️ Cutting Ties with Toxic People (Even If You Feel Guilty)
A lot of us stay in bad friendships out of guilt. “They’re going through a hard time.” “They don’t have anyone else.” “They used to be a good friend.”
But here’s the truth: people show you who they are by how they treat you when it’s inconvenient for them.
She showed her true colors. And it wasn’t when she was sad or struggling—it was when she thought she could milk the situation without consequences. And when she got called out? She turned nasty. That’s not someone worth keeping around.
The author later shared more details in the comments
No, you’re absolutely not wrong for cutting her off. She:
- Lied about having her wallet
- Promised to pay you back, then didn’t
- Used your kindness and your child as leverage
- Gaslit you when confronted
- Tried to flip the script and make you the problem
That’s not friendship. That’s freeloading with emotional strings attached.
If she’s truly struggling, she needs therapy, a financial advisor, or a support group—not someone to bankroll her life while playing victim. You were more than patient, more than kind. And now? You’re free.