That awkward Thanksgiving when my brother asked to borrow $3,000

Three years ago at my sister's house in Phoenix, my brother pulled me aside after dinner and asked for $3,000 to help with his landscaping business. I didn't know how to say no, so I just nodded and wrote a check the next day. Last month I found out he used it for a vacation to Vegas instead of equipment. I still haven't brought it up to him, but it's made family dinners real awkward since then. Has anyone else had a loan situation go sour with a relative?

2 comments

2 Comments

brian_coleman7d ago

Consider the money gone and never loan him another dime.

jason_kelly87d ago

Yeah, that's the hard truth right there. I loaned a buddy $500 once for "just two weeks" and didn't see a penny for like six months, and only then after I had to practically beg for it. It's brutal because it ruins the friendship too, not just your wallet. So yeah, write it off in your head as a lesson learned and never offer him cash again, no matter how good the story sounds this time.