Is it okay to round down when paying someone back?
Guilty
The short answer
No, you pay back the exact amount or round up. Rounding down is a favor that only the person who is owed can offer.
The ruling
From the public record. Names are replaced with roles.
Small claims division
Case no.PC-2026-06177
The friend who covered the groceries v. The friend who paid close enough
Filed 10/18/2026
- Plaintiff
- The friend who covered the groceries
- Defendant
- The friend who paid close enough
Statement of claim
I paid for our groceries, $47.80. She sent me $45 with the note close enough. Last month it was $31.50 and she sent $30. I am not asking for a lot. I am asking for the exact amount.
Charge
Repeated rounding down of small debts owed to the plaintiff, without the plaintiff's consent
Judgment
Guilty
Friend found guilty of close enough, twice
Sentence
The defendant sends the missing $4.30 today and pays the next shared bill in full, to the cent.
How the court usually rules on this
The court holds that small debts are paid in full, to the cent if needed. The lender may round down as a courtesy, and often does. The borrower may round up freely. Rounding down without asking, especially more than once, is treated as a small but deliberate offense.
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