We all know that one friend who magically “forgets” their wallet every time the check arrives or conveniently disappears when it’s their turn to cover something. They never outright say they won’t pay—they just have a way of avoiding it so smoothly that it almost seems accidental. But you’re onto them now, and if you’re tired of funding their freeloading habits, here’s how to handle it without losing your sanity.
1. Stop Them In Their Tracks Before They Fake-Search Their Pockets
We’ve all seen the routine: the exaggerated pat-down, the confused expression, the classic “I swear I had it on me!” before they oh-so-regretfully announce that they must have left their wallet at home. The trick is to cut them off before they even start the performance. The second the check arrives, look directly at them and say, “Oh, don’t even pretend—you got this one.” According to Slate, setting clear expectations about payment upfront and using digital tools like Venmo eliminates ambiguity when friends “forget” their wallets.
Calling it out with humor makes it impossible for them to wiggle out without looking blatantly cheap. If they actually forgot their wallet? Well, there’s this revolutionary invention called Venmo. They can pay you back before they even take their next sip of water.
2. “Forget” Your Wallet Once And See How Fast They Panic
Turn the tables and pull the exact same move they always do. When you’re out together, casually say, “Oh no, I left my wallet at home! You got this, right?” and watch their face go pale. If they start stammering about how they’re “a little tight on money right now,” just remind them how many times you’ve covered them in the past. Research from Washington University shows that reciprocity expectations in friendships create tension when financial imbalances persist, with digital payment tools exposing patterns of one-sided contributions.
Some people genuinely don’t realize how much they’ve been mooching until they experience it firsthand. If they suddenly start remembering their wallet more often after this, you’ll know the message got through loud and clear.
3. Ask Them To Drive And Watch How They Suddenly Don’t Want To Go
If your cheap friend is also the type who never volunteers to drive anywhere, this one’s for them. Next time you make plans, say, “Hey, you should drive this time—I always do.” Suddenly, they’ll have an excuse about how their gas tank is “dangerously low,” their car “hasn’t been running great,” or they just “don’t feel like dealing with parking.” Metafilter’s etiquette experts recommend establishing transportation boundaries early to avoid resentment over one-sided driving responsibilities.
Funny how that works, right? If they can’t even pitch in with transportation, it’s time to reevaluate whether this is really a friendship or just a one-sided financial sponsorship. Because let’s be honest—if they won’t even split the responsibility of getting somewhere, they’re never going to pick up a check.
4. See How Fast They Backtrack When You Suggest Splitting The Airbnb Deposit
There’s nothing a cheap friend loves more than making vague promises about paying “later.” And nothing tests their freeloading limits more than asking them to commit money upfront. Planning a trip? Suggest splitting the Airbnb deposit right away and watch them suddenly go quiet. The Points Guy emphasizes requiring equal upfront payments for group trips to prevent financial freeloading, as vague promises often lead to unpaid debts.
They’ll either try to push the payment onto someone else or say they’ll “pay you back” once the trip is over—meaning you’ll never see that money again. Insist on collecting their share immediately, and if they start making excuses, maybe it’s time to reconsider inviting them in the first place.
5. Make Them Call The Uber For Once

Cheap friends love the convenience of Uber—when someone else is paying, that is. If they always seem to be the passenger but never the one actually booking the ride, switch things up. The next time you’re all heading somewhere, casually say, “Hey, can you call the Uber this time?” and watch them panic.
If they suddenly “can’t get the app to load” or “just got a new debit card and haven’t updated it yet,” you’ll know they were never planning to pay in the first place. Hold firm, and if they still try to dodge it, make it clear you’ll be splitting the cost after the ride ends. Because let’s be real, their card works just fine when they’re ordering food for themselves.
6. Don’t Let Them Split The Bill When They Ordered The Most Expensive Thing
Nothing grinds your gears more than watching a friend order steak and cocktails while you stuck to a simple salad—only for them to suggest “just splitting it evenly” when the bill comes. Socially acceptable robbery, if you ask me. The solution? Speak up before the check even lands.
As soon as the waiter drops the bill, casually say, “I’m just paying for mine since I only got [insert your meal here].” If they try to guilt-trip you into covering more than your fair share, don’t budge. If they can afford lobster, they can afford to pay for it.
7. Pick Cash-Only Spots And Enjoy The Awkward Silence
Some freeloaders operate under the excuse that they’ll “pay you back later,” which, of course, never happens. But cash-only restaurants? Those eliminate that loophole real fast. Plan a night out at one, and when they go to pull their usual routine, sit back and enjoy the show.
They’ll have two choices: actually pay for their own meal, or admit they came out without a single dollar to their name. Either way, you’ll get to witness a rare moment where they have to face the consequences of their cheapness in real-time.
8. Casually Say, “Hey, You Still Owe Me From Last Time” With A Smile
Cheap friends rely on people being too polite to remind them of their debts. They assume if enough time passes, you’ll just let it go. But you’re not falling for that. The next time you’re about to split something, just smile and say, “Oh, by the way, you still owe me from last time. Want to send that over before we order?”
Bringing it up casually yet directly takes away their ability to weasel out of it. They can’t claim they forgot when you’re literally reminding them in the moment. And if they try to play it off? Keep smiling and wait. The longer the silence stretches, the more obvious it becomes that they were hoping you wouldn’t say anything.
9. Venmo Request Them Before They Put Their Phone Away
One of a cheap friend’s favorite tactics is conveniently “forgetting” to pay you back, hoping you’ll either lose track or feel too awkward to remind them. But you? You’re not playing that game. Instead of waiting around for them to do the right thing, you hit them with a Venmo request *immediately*—before they even have time to shove their phone back into their pocket.
That way, there’s no excuse. They can’t say they “forgot” or that they’ll “do it later” when the request is sitting right there on their screen. If they act surprised or annoyed? Just smile and say, “Oh, I figured I’d make it easy for you!” Let them stew in the discomfort of finally having to pay up—because, let’s be real, they knew what they were doing.
10. Bring Up Their Tab, And Don’t Let Them Laugh It Off
Some cheap friends love to joke about their own stinginess like it’s a funny little quirk. They’ll laugh and say things like, “Oh, you know me—I never pay for anything!” as if acknowledging it somehow makes it less annoying. But if they’re aware enough to joke about it, they’re aware enough to stop doing it.
The next time they try to play it off with a chuckle, hit them back with a straight face and say, “Yeah, I’ve definitely noticed! Speaking of which, you still owe me for the last two times we went out.” When they realize you’re not laughing along, they’ll be forced to decide whether they actually plan on being a decent friend or if they’re just hoping everyone keeps enabling their freeloading ways.
11. Keep A Running Tab Of Everything They Owe You And Remind Them
One of the biggest tricks in a cheap person’s book is pretending their debts don’t exist. They rely on everyone else being too polite to track what they owe—but you? You’ve got receipts. You’re done with the mental math and passive waiting. You start keeping a literal list.
Each time they conveniently “forget” to cover their share, you make a note of it. And the next time they try to avoid paying, you whip out your tally like you’re running a small business. “Oh, no worries! You actually still owe $25 from the last dinner, $12 from coffee, and $18 from that movie night. Want to just knock that out now?” Watch as they suddenly realize you’re not an ATM with unlimited withdrawals.
12. Send A Payment Reminder With Just A Single “?”

Most people hate being hit with the dreaded single-question-mark text. It’s passive-aggressive, it’s vague, and it immediately sends a chill down your spine. But when it comes to cheap friends who’ve conveniently “forgotten” to pay you back? It’s the perfect move.
There’s no room for excuses, no need for a long-winded explanation—just a simple “?” in response to your unpaid Venmo request. It puts all the pressure on them to acknowledge what they owe. If they ignore it? Send another. If they take too long? Send a third. Let them know that until that money is sent, those little question marks are going to keep haunting their notifications.
13. Suggest A Potluck—Watch Them Show Up With Nothing But Excuses
If there’s one thing cheap friends love, it’s eating for free. So when they get invited to a potluck, what do they bring? Nothing. Or maybe a single bag of chips while loading up on everyone else’s home-cooked meals. But you’re not falling for it. You make it clear that everyone is expected to contribute.
“What are you bringing?” is the question that throws them into a spiral. Suddenly, they’ve got an excuse. “Oh, I didn’t have time to cook,” or “I was going to bring something, but I forgot.” If they show up empty-handed, hand them a plate of absolutely nothing. Watching them squirm as everyone else enjoys their food? Priceless.
14. Thank Everyone Who Paid, Then Say, “Oh Wait, Did You?”
Cheap friends hate being called out, but sometimes, a little public accountability is the only thing that works. The next time you’re with a group and you’ve all chipped in for something, casually thank everyone who contributed. “Thanks for covering your share, Sarah! Appreciate it, Mike! Oh wait… did you pay yet?” as you turn directly to your freeloading friend.
The pressure is immediate. They can’t pretend to be unaware, they can’t brush it off, and they can’t just sit in silence hoping no one notices. If they fumble for an excuse, just wait. The longer the group stares, the more obvious their cheapness becomes. It’s amazing how fast people remember their wallets when they’re put on the spot.
15. Claim You’re Broke And See If They Magically Pay Their Share
Some cheap friends don’t even realize they’re taking advantage of you—until the money tap suddenly dries up. If they’re used to you covering things, flip the script. The next time you’re out together, casually say, “Yeah, I’m super broke right now. Can you get this one?” and watch their reaction.
If they immediately make an excuse, hesitate, or try to find a way out, you’ve got your answer. They were never expecting to pitch in—they were expecting you to do it. And if they suddenly step up and start paying? Well, it turns out they *were* capable of covering their own costs all along, they just never had to before.