You are in the right. That being said, I can see where your friend is coming from. It may not be justified, but it is easy to see how someone with that level of financial distress would be angry at someone who ruined their brilliant solution to their rent problem.
You’re not being a jerk, by any measure.
But you may need to preface your denial of this request with a whole lot of, “I’m sure you can understand…”, …that I have partners and cannot do this, am not able to resell this for full value, am not a pawn shop. Follow with, if you need a loan, we can talk about that, but I cannot do this. If they don’t ‘understand’, you have the opportunity to point out the inequity of them expecting your, ‘understanding’, while offering you none in return.
I have found the phrase, “I’m sure you can understand that…”, extremely useful for this sort of situation.
All that said, I would recommend you loan them money. I know it sounds silly, but hear me out. In my experience, this sort of person is unlikely to feel obligated to repay you. Never say it’s a gift, but accept, up front, you won’t see the money back. Now they won’t likely come back around for any more, since they haven’t made any effort to repay the first amount. If they do, you simply point out that you’d like to help them, but as they have not repaid the first amount you don’t see how you can. Don’t get angry, remain friendly. Tell them you are happy to lend money to friends but experience has taught you that if they don’t repay you the first time, they won’t repay you the second time, and stick to it.
If you do it without getting angry, you may find your friendship will survive. Not sure if you’d like to continue being friends with someone who constantly pushes you to do things you are uncomfortable with, but that’s for you to decide.
It could be your friend is hiding a depression, rather than a drug habit as another posted implied. Or the perfectly-used and legally-gotten pain medications are making him/her a little bitchy.
Good luck, and I’m sorry I don’t have any useful advice.
Hook your (ex)friend up with the sunglass guy. They should get along wonderfully.
What kind of creep asks you to buy back something for what you sold it to him for? Esp. after 6 months? Why not sell him some underwear? And then buy it back at full price? I know that you are well rid of him. And just think, it didn’t cost you anything! You are to be envied.
Stop trying to contact him. He will get back in touch with you as soon as his other friends stop lending him money, or whatever else.
Best wishes,
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As stated, no, not a jerk. Since I wasn’t there, it’s possible that the manner in which you said it came across as jerkish, even unintentionally. Beyond that, you seem to be in the right to me.
And from what I’ve seen on these boards, you are clearly someone who likes to help people, so it doesn’t seem to be in your nature to be the jerk in these situations anyway. I think you’re fine.
Your friend is the jerk, not you.