Every year, my friends and I plan a girls’ weekend getaway, and this year, it was my turn. I found the perfect $2,000 cabin on a lake, split among eight of us at $250 each. I booked it upfront and asked everyone to pay me back before the trip. They all agreed enthusiastically.

But as the trip drew near, excuses started rolling in: car repairs, student loans, payday delays. Then came silence from some friends. Despite my reminders, no one paid, and I was left out $2,000 with a weekend looming.

Determined not to be taken advantage of, I cooked up a plan. The night before the trip, I stocked the cabin with snacks and prepared everything—but took the keys with me and “ran an errand.” When my friends arrived, the doors were locked. I told them I’d only return once everyone had paid.

Suddenly, the excuses vanished, and payments flooded in through Venmo and PayPal. Once I had every penny, I returned the keys, watching their surprised and guilty faces. We had a serious talk about trust and respect.

Though the trip wasn’t quite the relaxing escape I’d imagined, the experience taught us all a valuable lesson about responsibility—and that friendships need honesty to thrive.