Help Me Fix My Money Problems

I just got done reading all the above blogs along with the original article. I am one of the ones who are trying to set the goal of achieving financial freedom, but every time it seems it is just in my reach, something happens and I go under again. Like now, I begged every friend and family I know for money so my electric would not be turned off for days before finally the day of shutoff was I able to get the money. If only I had $1500.00 I could catch up and then I could finally start my financial freedom and budget my finances. But until even on bills there is no way to start over. I am in dire straights.

Wishful Thinker

I also help them by telling them to visit my blog. I live by example. I share my personal experiences on stock market, how do I save, and my goals in achieving financial freedom. I also share some inspiring stories of successful entrepreneurs and inspiring quotes and articles to help them get inspired.

Aspiring Entrepreneur
http://www.myentrepreneurph.com

Tough question.

I suppose if you feel that the family member or friend is haeding for a fall financially then it is only fair that you make it clear to them that you think that they may have a problem. The thing is I imagine the best way to do this is in an indirect way. Let them know that you are there for them but don't be confrontational about it.

I think the best thing to do is to lead by example. If other people are seeing that you are managing your finances well they will eventually be cursious as to how you are doing it.

My girlfriend's best friend recently got married. By all accounts the wedding cost upwards of £20,000 and they bought a brand new car only a few months back. One of them is on £18000 and the other is on a little bit more. I really think they are heading for big trouble. I wouldn't have a clue how to help them out without offending them.

Yah... i struggle with this. I just have moron brother-in-law's. My wife's older brother blows his money on sushi, clubbin, and drinking every weekend. Then needs help with car payments, etc.

This story is the worst:
My wife and i both worked $10/hr jobs. We had taken off two weeks each, unpaid, to go on our honeymoon. So not only did we not make a lot, we actually were out 2 weeks of income each. When we get back from the honeymoon, she has a MySpace message from her brother asking for money! Yah, we had money that was gift money from the wedding which wasnt going to him, but other than that, we had just paid deposits for our place, etc etc, plus had no extra money, and he asked on MySpace!

Maybe I am a jerk, but I don't want to help him financially at all, and i won't since then!

I don't think you can help them until they do ask for your help. They may be fine with what they're doing. If you force your opinion, that could strain the relationship. Additionally, money isn't always the real issue. I think if they're interested, they'll ask.

I've tried a couple of different approaches. After I discovered Dave Ramsey's books and went to one of his talks, I bought ten books and gave them for Christmas presents to our sons, brothers, and a counsin and her children who have been borrowing money from my mother and not paying her back. Of that group of 10 gifts, 3 people have drank the koolaid. (My sons and one brother.) I bought another group of 17 and gave them to my book group and co workers, after ASKING if they wanted them. Since they have seen my circumstances change drastically, they all welcomed them. I am giving the Financial Peace Junior books as baby gifts and the wedding package for weddings.

I am also VERY open about the dumb, dumb DUMB mistakes I've made over the last 50 years...

I find that most people are too prideful to take advice, and that even if it were offered it would not be seen as altruistic - it would be seen as condescending and superior.

So I live by example, share anecdotes about coups and flops when they apply to whatever we're discussing, and of course I blog about things.

Other than that I keep my mouth shut. I hardly ever get in trouble that way.

Hi!

When I started my blog, I have those friends you mentioned in my mind. Though they didn't ask me, I know their problems and I thought of helping them using my blog. If you check earlier postings of my blog, it was written in question and answer format to help friends (though not using their own name).

Then everytime I get the chance to meet them, I tell them I just made a blog about personal finance. Hopefully, they will check out and find answers to their problems.

We all make personal finance blogs to help them. If they're too embarrassed to ask us, then maybe we can just inform them that we have a blog that about managing finance and hopefully, that's enough clue for them to find out.

Sam
Fix My Personal Finance
http://fixmypersonalfinance.com/