Before accepting conditional cash from family or friends, figure out just how desperate you are and what your game plan is to pay it back if you have to, writes Lesley-Anne Scorgie.
The catch is she wants to come stay at your home for a week each month and visit with your kids. You know how this goes; whenever she comes over, all the rules you and your partner have established go out the window. Dirty coffee cups are left all over the place. Wet diapers are tossed under the couch, and forgotten about.
She promises to help watch the kids, but you find her feet up on the couch with a sleeping mask over her eyes having a nap while your kids are emptying the dirt from your potted plant all over the floor.
Always, your house is turned upside down within hours of her arrival, you get stressed just thinking about this and your partner shifts into short-fuse-mode. Are creditors calling you? Is there not enough money to cover the rent and groceries? How much money do you have in savings?
Has a professional financial adviser or money coach helped you explore all of your options and they are telling you that your situation is dire?
