Real Answers for Life’s Money Challenges
The last 10 years I was barely getting by financially.
I had to ask my parents for money several times through the years.
Now I have a great job making plenty of money.
I wish Id never told my parents because they constantly ask me for money.
My friends know of my income.
They are always expecting me to pay for things and help them.
I told everybody because I was so proud of myself.
But it was a stupid idea to tell people.
Now I want to take it all back, every word of it.
I know lying is wrong.
It would also probably be effective in the short term forkeeping the mooches away.
But this seems like a difficult ruse to keep up.
The problem with lying about being dead broke is that you have to live like youre dead broke.
Surely you want to enjoy the hard-earned fruits of your success.
You dont owe it to your parents to be a human piggy bank.
Repaying your parents would be a great place to start.
The key is to have this conversation with your parents when they arent hitting you up for money.
Of course, you should still expect your parents to hit you up for money.
But at least when you say no, it will come as slightly less of a shock.
Try not to provide any additional information about your finances.
Most people are dreadfullyunprepared for an emergency.
When a true crisis hits, youll have money earmarked for that purpose.
But beyond that, I think you’re free to just start saying no.
Their reactions will help you separate your true friends from the moochers.
You brew coffee at home, you dont walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
One thing successful people do is set boundaries.
But I promise: Setting boundaries will be a lot easier than living a lie.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Send your tricky money questions to[email protected].
