When it comes to personal loans, don't. Friends who ask me for money with the promise to "pay me back", I consider it to be a gift, and from that point on, I do not expect any kind of payback. If I am remunerated, that's a bonus. Long before the movie "Pay it Forward" came out, I came up with a similar method for dealing with strangers (with children) who appeared to be stranded, and were seeking enough money to get home. I told them straight up that although their intentions to settle the debt may be sincere at the moment, that "things happen", and I don't want to hear about future financial setbacks. Therefore I ask that person, on his or her honor, to repay me by doing likewise to someone who they will be able to help. No, I'm not that naive. But just the act of planting the idea, and putting my money where my mouth is has the potential to affect a lot of people. For the better. For all I know, the concept for the movie came from a story that originated from what I did. EDIT: Note that I said personal loans. What kiva.org does falls under the category of business loans. Please don't waste space flaming me over a wrong assumption.