Rent-a-mate

Is the act of using a friend—usually someone who’s unemployed or has very little money—to come out with you, and you basically cover their day, buying them a beer, food, or whatever, in exchange for their company. They hang out with you, keep you entertained, maybe listen to your problems, and basically make sure you’re not going out on your own.

“Every Sunday, when he was bored and had nothing to do, he’d ring up his unemployed friend and they’d both head over to Lidl’s. He would spend about twenty quid on cider and beer and a bit of food, and the whole day would only set him back about twenty pounds. And that’s a perfect example of a rent-a-mate!”

Rent-a-mate by Jamie BM July 25, 2026