‘He’s now my personal debt collector’: Man adds friend to his phone plan during financial hardship, but his friend refuses to return the favor when the man's finances are affected by the government shutdown

When we fall on hard times, we can only hope that our support systems will take care of us as we once took care of them at one point in their lives.

Money is a fickle thing, isn't it? When we have a large sum of currency, we feel like we're on top of the world. Our superpower is spending money without checking our banking app, treating strangers to a round at the bar, and picking up the bill at dinner with friends, no questions asked. It feels good to do something generous for others, and knowing that you're making a difference in someone's life is an irreplaceable feeling.

This is what friends are for. You'd probably be taken aback if you found that a friend you've helped out refused to do the same for you. It's an emotional whiplash that strikes a nerve and makes you wonder: "Were they ever really my friend at all?"

Top 10 hardest pills to swallow, for sure. The man in the story below, who is the sole provider for a family of five, is struggling financially due to this year's government shutdown. He explains that when his childhood friend needed a helping hand a year ago, he helped him, no questions asked. The man has an unfortunate awakening when he realizes that his childhood "friend" doesn't actually want to help him, and only cares if he is directly affected. Scroll to read.