Tell a friend the hard truth while they can still do something about it, not after it stops mattering.

Delay turns honesty into something useless. Waiting until the decision is made, the money is spent or the relationship is over means your opinion arrives as commentary, and commentary just makes them feel stupid. The uncomfortable version, said early, is the only one that can actually change anything for them.

If you are sitting on something a friend would want to know while it still counts, say it this week, once, plainly, and then leave it with them. Lead with the fact that you are on their side. They may not take it, and you will have done the useful part anyway.