Addicted to Helping

[Singuy]

I have an interesting story to tell about one of my co-workers. She is currently 80k in debt(40k 401k debt and 40k credit card debt) created mostly from charity work!

She decided to help build an orphanage for her church using her 401k money, and lend a friend 30k to open up a shop, billed to her credit cards. The shop now failed and she is left with some serious debt.

This co-worker is extremely nice, addicted to helping from my perspective. So I guess not everyone gets into debt from selfish means.

[ladonnarosso]

I don't mean this to sound harsh, but it is completely stupid to go into debt through charity. Why would you give what you DON'T HAVE?? Give of your time volunteering or give food to the hungry, but don't give money that isn't yours (or isn't yours right now i.e. 401K). Isn't that the definition of stealing?

[rennigade]

Ah no biggie...god will provide...right????

[Singuy]

I'm assuming it's people taking advantage of her by drowning her with sob stories to the point she decided to help out.

It was a dark time in her life(Husband wanted to divorce her).

Some people drinks to deal with the depression, she just ended up giving away money she didn't have.

[AlexM1359]

Credit Card debt is a disease. I don't understand how people live with credit card debt. You should only have 3 types of debt in your life. Mortgage, car payments and student loans. And none of those should be charged to a credit card.