Never get to see my friend because of her family!

I don't think you should tell her to stuff it as Friendship is much more than going think of both sides maybe she is not allowed out or has problems but you should ask her why she can't come out with you

All i think you need to do is ask her, ' when are YOU free'

that way it's not you picking all the bad times to go and see her, meaning she is forced to give you a time and date for the two of you to go out !

I have asked her. She can go out, but she just chooses not to. She WANTS to stay in over seeing her friends. Even when we do go out, she leaves at about 6pm to get home for dinner. She's 21...

Oh I assumed she was younger
Make her feel guilty by actually giving her a visit if she does'nt turn up and telling her "you thought something happened to you" or speak to her about it by being in the least way confrontal.

I've been friends with this girl "Sarah" for about 4.5 years now but I hardly ever get to see her because she's so family orientated. Myself and another friend have been trying to meet up with Sarah since summer, but whenever we try she claims she's busy seeing family, or her brother is home from uni and she wants to hang out with him. For a week.

Sarah sends me messages on Facebook saying "I feel so bad, let's meet up soon!", but she's never around to. I like her, but I'm fed up now of never being able to see her. Should I tell her to stuff it?

My best friend is like this and sometimes it ca be frustrating. But we talked about it once, and what she made me realise is that to her, her family ARE her friends. I'm her friend to, and she has other friends, but she doesn't see anything different between stopping at home with her parents, and going oiut with friends - she enjoys both equally if not enjoying time with her family more.
I like spending time with my family, but they're not my friends in the same sense. I'd almost always pick spending time with friends over just sitting in front of the telly with my parents - but she wouldn't.

Mind you...in my other group of friends, I'm always the one that has to go home early etc. I know I could stay out, but for me family meal time is a big thing - it's a big thing if you're not there. It could be the same for your friend? It's a bit like you feel you're letting the family down, especially if mum/dad is cooking and has bought food etc...

I agree, I think this is he best way to look at it whilst you are none the wiser. And also asking what she wants to do etc and whens good for her as opposed to just forcing stuff on her is best and expecting her to be able to make it. I'm sure she wouldn't mind you you approached her and said something along the lines of...'Aw, it seems we never get to meet up anymore, you're always too busy, let me know when you are free and what you fancy doing'... As long as you approach her about it with a caring tone I'm sure you can't go wrong if shes got genuine reasons for not wanting to meet up.

Exactly, you'd expect her to be younger by the way she acts, but she's not. It's all a bit ridiculous, isn't it?