I had the same exact thing happen to me with my sister 2-3 years ago. I lent her and her husaband $500 as they needed it, or else a chain of checks etc would bounce. I told her that I didn't have a problem lending her the money, but that I expected it back. I went through great lengths to make it easy for her. I told her that it really didn't matter to me whether repayment ocurred a month later, or 8 months later, only that whatever date SHE CHOSE would be adhered to. I made the specific comment that the very last thing I ever wanted to have to do was chase my own sister down for money.
She picked a date 2-3 months out, and that date came and went. I called her a week or so after the date passed, waiting to make sure it wasn't a check in the mail issue, and my calls were dodged. I finally got her on the horn, guessing she didnt check caller ID when she answered, and she quickly gave me the whole the check is in the mail thing, don't freak out. So I waited another 2 weeks, leaving no possibility of the check in the mail thing, and then could not get ahold of her for a good 1-2 months of trying.
Her husband was in the military, and they were being shipped to Germany, so I reached out to her a few weeks before they left telling her that I was sorry for somewhat harassing her for the money after the fact, and that her our relationship as brother and sister was more important than $500. I belive I got her to text me once or twice, but could never get her on the phone. I believe she was too embarassed to even speak to me.
I only recently after the birth of our first child, and her first nephew, have had the chance to speak with her on the phone. I feel there will always be a splinter in our relationship because of $500, how silly.
Anyhow, the point of my story, and what I learned from this experience and a friend the hard way, was that if you give money to a family member, you give it as a gift not expecting repayment. If you can't afford to do this, then you should politely decline the loan request. Anything other than this, and you are asking for trouble, take it from me.
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