We’ve all been there, haven’t we? When a family member’s constant chats and calls for financial support turns our phone notifications into a series of heart palpitations. Once you see this particular person’s phone call, you know what they want. It might not even be one person, it could be two or even more. 

Let’s get one thing straight: helping family is like second nature to most of us. But when that ‘once in a while’ help turns into a regular subscription service, things can get frustrating.

Constant Demand Wearies the Soul 

Let’s look at the story of Sarah. She’s the go-to ‘Bank of Family Matters.’ Last Christmas, her cousin pulled her aside to ask for a “small favor” – a loan to cover some expenses. Fast forward to Easter, Thanksgiving, and a few random Tuesdays, that “small favor” had turned into a recurring role for Sarah.

Such that, Sarah’s cousin doesn’t even check up unless she has a little favor to ask for. She always calls it little, but it has become a huge problem for Sarah.

Here’s where it gets real. It’s good to help and be charitable too. But there’s always where to draw the line, if not, the giver may one day become a beggar. Before you know what’s happening, you become weary and broke.

What Do You Do?

So, how does one handle this? First off, communication is key. You should have an open, honest, and calm conversation about your financial boundaries. You could sit down with this person over a cup of coffee and explain that while you’re more than willing to help, there’s a limit to what you can do without compromising your financial health.

This is not a situation you handle with anger, as much as you deserve to be angry. However, family issues should be handled carefully and with wisdom so as to avoid unnecessary issues later on.

And speaking of solutions, why not play the role of a financial mentor rather than just the lender? Sometimes, the best form of help is empowering your loved ones to manage their finances better. Share resources, tips, or even suggest sitting down together to create a budget. Some will be willing to listen to you while some will hesitatingly play along because it’s easier and profitable for them to use you than to be financially smart.

You Can Budget Too

Setting aside a specific portion of your budget for family support is another way to draw the line. It allows you to help without dipping into your savings or, worse, going into debt yourself. Think of it as your little way of supporting, and once you exhaust it, that’s all. You shouldn’t dip into other savings or investments just to go the extra mile for some family members. You will end up resenting them.

But what happens when the requests just keep coming, despite your best efforts?

Well, this is where setting boundaries becomes crucial. Make it clear that your support, though generous, isn’t limitless. And yes, it might lead to some uncomfortable conversations, and you might even be labeled the ‘bad guy’ for a while, but remember, true kindness sometimes requires tough love.

In essence, dealing with a family member’s constant demand for financial support requires balancing empathy with pragmatism, and generosity with self-preservation. What’s more important is building a culture of financial independence within your family, not out of selfishness, but out of a genuine desire for collective growth and stability.

So, imagine you’ve had the chat, shared some budgeting tips, and even set aside a ‘family support’ line in your own budget. But what if the requests keep coming?

Sarah’s cousin asked for money to get a new TV but Sarah already exhausted the family support savings, so she said NO to her cousin—it wasn’t a flat-out “no.” It was a “no, but…” followed by an alternative form of support. “No, I can’t lend you the money for that new TV, but I can help you find a great deal on a used one.”

When it Still Doesn’t Work 

When the “no, but…” approach is not working , it might be time for a family intervention. Sounds serious, right? That’s because it is. If it’s something you can do, gather the crew for a family meeting either physically or on a conference call. Discuss how you can collectively support each other without pushing anyone to the wall. This could mean pooling resources for a common goal, like a family emergency fund, or even starting a small family business.

Bottom Line

Sometimes, it could be a serious underlying issue that is making a family member constantly ask for help. It could be an overwhelming debt that has gone out of control. In this kind of situation, you can encourage such relatives or friends to speak with one of our debt experts at EmpireOne Credit. They could reduce their debt by up to 80%, and interest will stop immediately. Call us at (416) 900-2324 to schedule a free consultation with us. Being debt-free feels good!