What's a polite way of saying no to someone who asks for a pencil or someother type of writing utencil during class?

i hated this in school! and i hated telling people know so what i did is:

1. i’d buy really crummy pencils or pens so i didn’t have to worry about them being lost or etc.
2. i’d get custom pencils that said really mean things like “i’m a mooch” , ” i’m a douche bag” ” i like to lick dog anus ” this one worked the most because no one wanted to borrow these haha
3. start charging $.50 or whatever per writing instrument or whatever.
4. tell them you only have supplies for you, which isn’t lying because it is for you.
5. if you’re in class raise your hand and let the teacher know that person doesn’t have a pen or pencil. yeah you may come off harsh but that person will be embarrassed and i’m sure they won’t ask for one from you again.
6. have them ask someone else.

srsly, i could go all day!

Yeah the same happens to me. Theres this one girl who always asks for pencils and other things. One time I lent her my favourite pencil. Not just the wooden kind, but a mechanical one. Well I never got it back. I see her use it everyday and I feel like telling her “umm do you realize thats MY pencil!? give it back!” but its too late now..

@tinyvamp I like your last suggestion, lol:P

“4. tell them you only have supplies for you, which isn’t lying because it is for you.”
Pretty much what I was going to add. Just say, “I’m sorry, I only have enough for me. Maybe the teacher has something you could borrow?”

Only bring one pencil.

@kid: Gilgamesh specifically stated she doesn’t want to lie to them. :)

EDIT: You changed your answer, so disregard my quip.

Just explain that you can’t count on people to return lent writing implements so you choose not to let people borrow them. If that comes across as too stingy, too bad! Tell them that no one likes a mooch if they decide to get upset. You can embarrass them in a tongue-in-cheek way. Tell them that you aren’t a pencil dispenser.

I know I did :D haha.
So learn your lesson.

@desiree333: I feel like telling her “umm do you realize thats MY pencil!? give it back!”

LOL, when that would happen i would be like “OH!! WOW!! that is such an awesome pencil, it looks exactly like MINE!” and grin really hard at them to make them feel awkward! :þ

lol dude you cant afford pencils come on.

Excuse me, learn my lesson?

sorry, bro, this is the only one i have.

One of the amazing things you learn getting out of high school is that none of these people are your friends; they’re classmates, and whether or not they they think you’re a nice person because you lent them a pencil will never, ever matter. Say no without guilt.

That’s harsh, AlfredaPrufrock, but it might just be true (but maybe not fully).

Alfreda is absolutely right.

How about taking a deposit? Wouldn’t have to be money; could be anything the kid would want back.

Alfreda indeed is completely right. I tell people I only have enough for me. Also consider that the person will never learn to bring a pencil unless they really can’t borrow one, it’s sad that the person needs to be taught this, so you might as well teach em now.

@Harp: My teacher used to take our shoes hostage.

Just carry some basic pencils that are really cheap.

I guess I disagree with out people here where I don’t think you should let people take your nice pencils but I do think that it’s always a good idea to have some extras to lend. You never know if someone you want to talk to will need one or if someone unexpectedly returns the favour in the future. Pay it forward, it’s cheap.

And while I lurved nice pencils in high school when I got to Uni I always went straight for the cheapest Bic pencils. I realised it’s just not worth it to spend any amount of money on writing tools.

@90s I guarantee you that 5 years out of high school, you will probably only keep in touch with 5 or less people on a regular basis. And the people who are the cool people in high school, will be replaced with people who really are interesting, but for reasons that don’t register in high school. In my experience, most high school jocks become insurance salesmen…

Yeah but what you said first is that no one will be a friend. I think that that is absolutely false. But most. Kids in my class hate me, except for a select few. So I agree.

We think you’re cool, and you know more about bathroom fixtures than anyone I know. One day, that knowledge will serve you well. Just don’t ask me to tell you how…

I lend out my cheapies without much ado.

Once I loaned out my favourite mechanical pencil.
But I prefaced it with [delivered in my most serious face]:
This is my favourite pencil.
If you don’t return it after class, I will hunt you down.
Although I don’t know where you live, I know where you are TTh 12:30–2:00.
(It was a large class and hard to keep track of everyone in class.)

Needless to say, I got my pencil back.
He returned it, thanked me and back away slowly in mock fear.
It was quite the performance and totally had me cracking up.

Just say “sorry”. Or, “I’ll sell one to you, for a dollar”. You can make some money.

You already have some great answers. I think two possibilities are the best.

1) If you have such a hard time telling people that you only have one when you really have more, then just only bring one pencil/pen for yourself. Then, you’ll be telling them the truth, which should be easier. (Just make sure you don’t lose yours!)

2) Buy some very cheap, inexpensive pen/pencils for use to loan out. That way, if you don’t get them back, you won’t miss them…and they won’t cost you that much.

Good Luck!

@desiree333 Tell her you forgot your pencil one day and ask if you can borrow one. Feign surprise and say, “Oh, how convenient – you brought the pencil I loaned you to class today! That works out perfectly.” Then smile your sweetest smile and hold out your hand.

As to the original question… Either say you prefer not to lend them out or invest two bucks in a pack of cheap pens or pencils. When they run out say, “Sorry, I loaned them all out to people who didn’t give them back and now I don’t have any more to give out.” That wouldn’t be a lie because you really would be out of the ones you bought to lend.