Tag Archive for friendship

What to Do When People Ask You for Money

May 2, 2018 Money Management 2 comments
What to Do When People Ask You for Money

What to Do When People Ask You for MoneyIf you are a responsible adult, you likely have your financial life in order. You may not be rich, but you keep a detailed budget and you are smart with your spending. That means there is more money coming in than going out each month, and you are able to save for the future while leading comfortable lifestyle today.

Unfortunately, not everyone is so responsible. Many people spend much more than they earn, which quickly lands them in a tough spot. If this is the life lived by someone close to you, it is possible that they will turn to you for financial assistance sometime soon. When they come calling for cash, what do you say? This is a tricky situation, to say the least.

You Are a Nice Person

The first thing to square away is the fact that you should be able to lay your head down on the pillow at night feeling good about yourself, regardless of this decision.

If you decide that you aren?t going to lend any money, that doesn?t make you a bad person. This is a complicated topic, and there are many ways to look at it. Once you realize that saying ?no? doesn?t make you a bad person, it will be easier to remain objective and make a smart decision.

Why Do They Need Help?

This is probably the main question to ask yourself ? and the other person ? when deciding how to proceed. Why is this person in a position to need financial help? Sometimes, it is a very legitimate reason. For instance, they may have had a combination of untimely events, such as a large medical bill and a work layoff. That doesn?t make them a bad person, or irresponsible ? it just means they are going through a tough time.

On the other hand, this person could be asking for money because they have not yet decided to take control of their own life. They make money, but they spend it just as fast. Or, they keep becoming unemployed because of their own actions, like showing up late for work or doing a poor job. This person is not the victim of bad luck ? they are dealing with the consequences of their own actions.

Making a Judgement

It is a good idea to avoid judging people on a day to day basis, as you have your own life to lead. However, when someone asks you for money, it is inherent that you will need to judge their situation. Do you feel comfortable with lending or giving this person money? What are they going to do with it? Is your help going to change anything moving forward?

For a person who is the victim of genuine bad luck, you may be able to give them the chance they need to catch up. This is a person who has proven themselves to be responsible, and there is no reason to think that won?t continue to be the case. For a person who is out of money because of bad decisions, your help won?t change their patterns. Rather than a loan or a gift, they likely need a financial intervention of some kind.

In the end, trust your personal judgement and never give away or loan money that you can?t afford to go without. Take care of yourself and your family first, and help others as you can from there. It?s always hard to say no when someone needs financial help, but in some situations, saying no might actually be the best thing you can do for their future.

 

Have you ever been asked for money? What did you do when someone asked you for money?

 

Photo courtesy of: Goumbik

How to Handle These 3 Awkward Money Situations with Friends

March 5, 2018 Lifestyle 2 comments
How to Handle These 3 Awkward Money Situations with Friends

How to Handle These 3 Awkward Money Situations with FriendsThere’s probably very few subjects that are off limits between you and your friends. However, no matter the length of your friendship, finances seems to be one subject that is forever taboo.

Between your salary, lending money to one another, and splitting the bill, there’s an array of occasions that arise where money inevitably comes into play. Unfortunately, these instances can lead to some uncomfortable conversations.

To prepare yourself for the next time money comes up with your friend group, take a look at our guide on how to handle these three awkward money situations.

1. You Lent Money that Hasn’t Been Returned

In most cases, you’d have no problem lending your friend a small amount of money or paying for their meal if they’re short. Unfortunately, sometimes even the smallest amount unpaid can drive a wedge between friends.

A good rule to have in the first place is to never lend anything you can’t afford to lost, because if your friend doesn’t pay you back, it’ll only serve to create resentful and irritable feelings on your part.

That being said, you should also take the time to follow up after said event and amicably reminding your friends that the bill was “x amount,” if they wouldn’t mind paying you back via Venmo or PayPal. It’s a pleasant way to send a small reminder.

2. Splitting the Bill

Splitting the bill always seems to be complicated. Some insist on paying for exactly what they ordered, while others want to split the whole thing evenly. However, when all you had was a salad to your friends steak, you might not be happy splitting the bill.

Being the oddball out and insisting on paying only for what you owe is awkward. To alleviate the situation, always bring cash. In turn, you can offer to put down what your meal was worth and have the rest split. Your request won’t seem as obvious and the server won’t have to worry about organizing the bills correctly.

3. Handling the Question “How Much Did that Cost?”

Whenever you or one of your friends has a new purchase, everyone else usually wants to know all about it. This conversation consequently brings about the question, “how much did it cost?”

With the little items, you might not have a problem disclosing that information, but if you splurged or made a large purchase, it could be uncomfortable. Either politely say you’d rather not divulge that information.

Or, if you do, make a point to explain how you saved up or what sacrifices you made to have the ability to splurge.

Money doesn’t have to create awkward and tense situations between friends. There are always ways to ease any financial situation to keep money from coming between you and those closest to you.

So, the next time you go to split the bill or someone asks you to put the tab on your card, remember a few of these easy ways to keep the financial situation from spoiling your friendships.

 

Do you feel comfortable discussing your finances with friends? What other awkward money situations have you encountered?

 

Photo courtesy of: vivienviv0

3 Smart Reasons You Should Never Lend Money to Friends

February 5, 2018 Lifestyle 2 comments
3 Reasons Not Lend Money to Friends

3 Reasons Not Lend Money to FriendsLending money to just about anyone is an inherently sticky situation. Nonetheless, when someone you love needs assistance your first instinct is to do what you can. And if you’re in a position where you’re doing well financially, you might feel slightly obligated to lend money to friends in financial stress.

While your heart is no doubt in the right place, deciding to lend money to friends could land you in a stressful situation your part.

Even under the best of circumstances, lending money more often than not seems to go awry. Before offering up funds to one of your friends, take a look at these three reasons for why you might want to reconsider.

1. They Might Come Back for More

Although you might agree to help out this once, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your friend won’t ask again. In most cases, if someone has asked once, they’ll no doubt ask again.

By lending a friend money, you in a sense open yourself up for business and imply that in the event of future financial crises, you are someone your friend can immediately go to for money.

In the end, lending money once could lead towards a neverending cycle that you no doubt don’t want to begin.

2. You Don’t Necessarily Solve the Problem

If a friend is in financial trouble, that could mean that their financial habits are less than stellar. While everyone makes mistakes and certain circumstances might not always be within their control, lending said person money doesn’t exactly help them out.

If your friend is someone who consistently has money woes, merely lending them money only serves to perpetuate the problem. Instead of doing so, help them find ways to adjust their finances and begin practicing smart financial habits.

3. It Could Dissolve Your Relationship

Whether you’re forced to say no, which causes your friend to become offended, or are then put in the award situation of having to constantly ask your friend to pay back your loan, lending money to friends will only cause problems in your relationship.

You could find that you have different opinions, disagree on when the loan is paid back or find issue due to the fact that you yourself needs said money. Moreover, the tension it can cause between you and your friend, especially if your friend feels like they owe you, might ruin the relationship regardless of how it plays out.

Telling your friends no in any situation is never easy. Of course it’s even worst if they’re in a tough spot and need the help.

There’s no doubt that you run the risk of your friends getting angry with you if you decline financial help. However, if you simply make it a practice and explain your reasoning, more often than not, I think you’ll find that they understand.

After all, when it’s all said and done, you’ll both be glad you said no if only for the sake of your friendship.

 

Have you ever tried to lend money to friends? How did it turn out?

 

Photo courtesy of: Joe Pizzio