Loaned my brother $300 and got back a "life lesson" instead of cash

Last month my brother asked for $300 to fix his car. I said yes because I felt bad and he promised to pay me back in two weeks. Well it's been five weeks and he finally handed me an envelope with a note saying "money ruins relationships." No cash inside. I learned that setting limits BEFORE handing over money is way more important than being nice in the moment. Has anyone else had family act like you're the bad guy for expecting them to keep their word?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_hayes1d ago

Honestly good lesson for you about boundaries though.

blair_lewis851d ago

Three years ago my brother-in-law loaned his truck to a buddy from work and it came back with a cracked windshield and a dent in the door. The buddy promised to fix it but just kept putting it off until my brother-in-law finally had to pay for it himself to get it inspected. I get where you're coming from @patricia_hayes but sometimes it's not about boundaries, it's about people taking advantage of kindness and then acting like you're the jerk for wanting things made right. Should he have been more careful with who he loaned it to, sure, but that doesn't make the other guy less responsible for what happened.