The ladder is not in the garage, and nobody remembers who has it. The fix is simple: write down every loan at the handoff, in one list, with the item, the borrower, the date it left, when it is due back and a photo. Below is the lending log we use, ready to copy.
Lent things rarely vanish on purpose; they get forgotten, so the fix is a record made at the handoff, not a better memory.
What is the easiest way to keep track of things you lend?
Write it down at the handoff, in one list you always use. Record what the item is, who has it, the date it left and when you want it back. Add a photo for anything valuable or easy to confuse. One simple list you actually keep beats a better system you only use half the time.
The Emily Post Institute puts it plainly: "It's a good idea to keep track of anything you lend out." Their example is a friend with a borrowing book.
A clipboard by the garage door, a pinned phone note or an app all work. Just keep exactly one list.
What should a lending log include?
Six things: the item, described well enough to tell apart; the borrower's name; the date it went out; a due back date; what went with it, like a charger or case; and its condition, ideally as a photo. Add a returned mark when it comes back, so the open list stays honest.
| Item (example data) | Borrower | Out | Due back | Went with it | Condition | Returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordless drill | Sam, next door | Oct 4 | Oct 12 | Charger, 2 batteries, bit case | Photo; scuff on handle | Yes, Oct 11 |
| 24 ft extension ladder | Priya | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nothing | Photo | Not yet |
| 4-person tent | Cousin Ana | Aug 15 | Aug 25 | Poles, stakes, rain fly | Photo | Yes, Aug 24 |
| Carpet cleaner | Lee | Nov 2 | Nov 9 | Hose, 2 attachments | Photo | Not yet |
| Folding tables (2) | Block party | Sep 6 | Sep 7 | Nothing | Fine | Yes, Sep 8 |
| Paperback novel | Coworker | Sep 1 | About a month | Nothing | Fine | Not yet |
The column people skip is Went with it. The drill comes back; the second battery does not.
| Item type | Sensible due back |
|---|---|
| Tool for a weekend job | The Monday after |
| Book | About a month |
| Camping gear | The week after the trip |
| Party tables and chairs | The day after the event |
| Baby gear | Agree up front; it often moves on with the child |
Things I lent
| Item | Borrower | Out | Due back | Went with it | Condition | Returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Things I borrowed
| Item | Owner | Out | Due back | Went with it | Condition | Returned |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
How do I ask for something back without making it awkward?
Give a date when it goes out, so the later ask is about the date, not the person. The Emily Post Institute's borrowing rules put the job on the borrower: name a return time and keep it. If the date passes, ask once with a reason, such as a project this weekend, and offer to pick it up.
The Emily Post Institute's borrower rules:
- Give a time when you will return the item, and be punctual.
- Return it in at least as good condition as when you got it.
- Offer to repair, replace or pay for anything damaged, broken or lost.
A few tips of our own:
- Attach the ask to a reason. "I need the ladder for the gutters on Saturday" lands better than "Do you still have my ladder?"
- Offer to come get it.
- Do a twice-a-year sweep. One group message: "Garage clean-out this weekend, does anyone still have the pressure washer?"
Is my stuff still insured when someone borrows it?
Often, yes, but check your policy. Travelers explains that personal property coverage typically applies wherever your belongings are located, though items away from home may be covered at a lower limit. Separately, the Emily Post Institute's rules say a borrower should offer to repair, replace or pay for anything damaged, broken or lost.
Travelers says personal property coverage can apply both at home and away from home. Policy forms differ, so check your own policy or ask your agent what the off-premises limit is before you lend anything expensive.
A photo of the item as it left helps whichever way it goes.
What should I check before lending baby gear, ladders or power tools?
Check that it has not been recalled. Search the brand and model on cpsc.gov/Recalls before it leaves the house, and do not pass on anything under a warning; some CPSC warnings say plainly, do not sell or give away. Hand over the manual and any safety parts too, and note them in your log.
Our guide shows how to check if it has been recalled step by step. Search the CPSC recall list; notices often ask for a photo of the model number, so keep one in your records. Put safety parts, like a guard or strap, in the Went with it column.
Tracking loans in Vorby
Vorby is an AI home inventory app for iPhone and the web: you photograph your things and get a searchable catalog organized by room, with receipts, warranties, labels and household sharing. It is not a lending app, but if your things are already in it, a Lent out label and a one-line note do the job.
- When it leaves. Tag the item with a Lent out label. An item can carry several labels, so it keeps its other tags.
- Add a note. Write who has it, the due date and what went with it, and add a photo of it as it left.
- See what is out. Open the Lent out label to see every item tagged with it, wherever it lives in the house.
- Find one person's things. Search your inventory for the borrower's name. Search matches notes.
- When it comes back. The item keeps its room and location. Untag it.
- Tell the household. Share with your household so your partner can see what is out too.
For the return date itself, use your phone's calendar. If tools are the usual suspects, keep your tools organized so an empty hook stands out. And if your home runs on a family command center, the Lent out list belongs there.
Vorby has a free plan, and paid plans come with a 14-day free trial.
Frequently asked questions
Should I keep track of things I borrow too?
Yes. Give your list a second section for things you borrowed, with the owner, the date and when you said you would bring it back. The Emily Post Institute's borrowing rules ask borrowers to name a return time, keep it, and return items in at least as good condition. A borrowed list makes that easy.
What if something I lent comes back broken?
Say so right away and point to the photo you took when it went out. The Emily Post Institute's borrowing rules say a borrower should offer to repair, replace or pay for anything damaged, broken or lost. A condition photo and a note of what went with it settle most of these conversations quickly.
Is there an app for tracking things you lend?
Yes. Dedicated lending apps log loans and send return reminders. If you already keep a home inventory, you can track loans there instead: tag the item with a label such as Lent out and note who has it. In Vorby, opening that label lists everything that is out. Put the due date in your phone's calendar.
How long should I lend something for?
Long enough for the job, and say the date out loud when it leaves. A tool for a weekend project can come back Monday. A book might get a month. Camping gear can come back the week after the trip. If the borrower needs longer, agree on a new date and update your list.
Know who has the ladder
Add the things people borrow most to Vorby, tag them Lent out when they leave, and you will never stand in the garage wondering who has the ladder.
