We all know that someone who keeps asking for money and they’re a total nightmare to deal with. Don’t get me wrong, there’s not an issue with helping someone out when they’re in a pinch if you’re comfortable with it and can afford it yourself—though it is important to note that in no case do you have to give someone money.
But we’re not talking about one-time offenders here. No, we’re talking about those people who can’t keep things together and always seem to be lacking financial support for themselves. Those people are toxic and sometimes helping them out can be really harmful to you.
Learn How to Say “No” to Someone Who Keeps Asking for Money
For some of us, saying no is really hard. If you’re one of those people, you should know that you’re not alone.
Saying no, especially to friends and family can be really hard to do. You want to see the best for them, you want them to be in a good place and, honestly, you probably want to help them out. But just because you want to, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.
First of all, deciding whether to help out is a personal decision. No one can make it for you, and just because someone thinks you should or shouldn’t has really no bearing. It’s your money, your relationship and, ultimately, your decision.
But if you’re stuck with someone who keeps asking for money and you’re sick of it, it’s time to learn how to say no.
When it comes to saying no to someone on the matter of lending money, you should remember that you don’t owe anyone an explanation. No is good enough. But sometimes, sitting down with them to explain that you can’t financially afford it, you’re not comfortable with it or they already owe you a set amount of money can help everyone involved.
Give Explicit Conditions for Lending
If you’re someone who’s ready to say yes, but you want to iron out the finer details to make sure that you get your money back, setting out conditions can be a great way to approach the situation.
The conditions of your lending will vary depending on you, but some things you can talk about could include a repayment plan, interest and specific payment dates if they’re going to be paying you back after a longer period of time.
Conditions can help everyone involved understand the circumstances surrounding the borrowed funds.
Help Them Out… Without Giving Cash
Let’s say you don’t have the money or you simply don’t want to lend it (both are completely OK), there’s nothing to say you can’t offer them other assistance. Maybe you offer to help them create a budget, cut expenses or give them a hand looking for new jobs that pay more or improve their resume.
These solutions won’t help when someone needs money right now, but if you’ve got a skill that could contribute to a more financially stable future it could be a great way to help them solve their issue long term.
At the end of the day, denying assistance can break relationships. But that leads to an important question, is this a relationship you really want in your life?
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Tae started out as a journalist before following the money into the corporate world. But it turns out that the grass isn’t always greener and now you can find her spending most of her time writing about all the things she loves. Namely, money, travel and business with a hefty dose of self-deprecating humor. She is a podcast fanatic, blogging aficionado and loves to find new ways to turn passions into cold hard cash!