What happens when you become the rich friend? – Diana Clement

Opinion byYour Money and careers writer for the NZ Herald·NZ Herald·14 Nov, 2026 08:00 PM4 mins to readDiana Clement is a freelance journalist who has written a column for the Herald since 2004. Before that, she was personal finance editor for the Sunday Business (now The Business) newspaper in London.‌Lending to friends can strain relationships if the money is never repaid. Photo / 123rfI had the experience of being the “rich” friend, surprisingly early, in my late 20s. I wasn’t “rich”. But I had a job while my former best friend had been on benefits since school. It was mighty awkward with a dollop of envy and expectations thrown in. One particularly difficult