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Imagine having a friend who has made some pretty bad financial decisions. Basically, she’s living above her means, has accumulated quite a bit of debt, and now, she keeps asking you for money every time she sees you. What would you do?
In this story, one woman is in this situation, and she is not willing to give her friend money; however, she is willing to give her some tips to improve her financial situation.
Personally, I think this friend sounds exhausting and annoying. I’d probably stop hanging out with her. Keep reading to decide how you think she should handle this situation.
AITA for offering advice vs money for my friend’s financial situation?
For context I’m 32F and my friend is 36F. To get to the point of it she has put herself in a massive financial bind. She let me know over the past few months on how bad it is.
She has financed a car she didn’t need for $700 a month, financed a bunch of expensive electronics, doesn’t grocery shop and eats out a lot, has taken out personal loans, maxed out her credit cards and get cash advances. All to continue to live her lifestyle without being accountable for how bad her financial situation really is.
Instead she blames it on other people doing better than her and not understand how hard it is to live life on your own.
She is not willing to loan her friend money.
Each time she’s tried to ask me for a lot of money like rent and now her latest request helping with her late car payment; I’ve said no. But I have offered her advice on how to fix her situation.
Sell the car and get something older in cash, get a roommate to split bills with, sell the expensive electronics for cash to pay off debt, commute to the city for a better job opportunity, create a budget to stick to and take an online financial literacy course.
I do get wanting to just vent sometimes and not wanting advice, but it’s gotten to the point where every week she is bringing it up as if she’s guilt tripping me into eventually giving her what she’s asking for.
Her friend doesn’t want her advice.
The advice I do give always has an excuse from her on why she doesn’t want to do any of it or why she “can’t”.
After the latest vent and me saying no to giving her money she’s being short with me and has an attitude.
AITAH for trying to be supportive, but not giving her money sometimes?
Venting is fine, but it’s not venting if she’s asking for a loan. That’s different. That’s a sob story.
I’d be so sick of talking to that friend.
Let’s see what Reddit suggests.
This person shares their thoughts.
Another person shares a warning.
I completely agree with this comment.
If you enjoyed this story, check out this post about a man who had to sprint to the bathroom the moment he got home, then emerged to find his partner upset he didn’t greet her properly.
Another person offers advice about advice.
These friends need to reach an agreement before they drive each other crazy. They need to agree not to talk about finances. Her friend needs to stop asking her for money, and she needs to stop offering advice her friend isn’t going to take. If her friend feels the need to vent, she can say that, like, “I need to vent.” However, she shouldn’t end the venting with a request for money, and OP needs to realize that venting means don’t offer advice.
These friends do not see eye to eye.
