Grandaughter

I think its important to get the principles of lending/giving money to family firmly established between you and your husband before agreeing to any short term loans/gifts so a sit down chat is needed urgently. Of course you want to help her I would too but I always square it with DH first before I hand over any money. I did think its going to be difficult for her to pay you back as that will make her short at the end of next week. I wondered if you had thought of giving any family members some of what they would inherit ahead of time to get them straight and settled so that then there would be no further need of loans.

I don't see a problem lending her the money if it won't leave you short.

If paying it back is a problem couldn't she spread it over a couple of months?

Give her the money! - better to see her getting the benefit of it now than wait until you are dead!

I am just off on a holiday with most of the family and I have rented all the accommodation so I can enjoy seeing them having fun and enjoying a holiday they could not otherwise afford.

It sounds as though yo0ur OH has come round to the idea of this loan so I would not worry about it. Men can be funny about money. Thankfully my OH is of the opinion that we should share some of what we have accumulated with our family - he has PD and thinks he will not last long (a bit of a pessimist!) and wants to help them all while he can.

Oh yes. Let her have the money. Men are often a bit unwilling to part with cash. It's typical that he had come round by the morning.

My mother had a jewish friend who just managed to get out of the back door before the Gestapo came in the front.

They arrived penniless in UK despite having substantial property in Germany.

Her mantra was

'Give while the hand is hot and not cold' Its mine too

My DH would give our DGC our last penny and I am not exagerating. He/we are not money orientated and we would both rest easier knowing we had been able to help out a little bit. As for paying back, if it happened it happened. I would never fall out with anyone over money.

DD had the same problem when she got her first full-time job and went from weekly to monthly pay. We didn't think twice about advancing her enough money to get through the month and she repaid us over a period of six months.

The alternative is that she has to take an unauthorised overdraft, might take out a pay day loan or resort to other borrowing to get her through the month that then gets her enmeshed in debt because of the horrendous interest rates, penalty charges and will damage her credit record.

Lend it to her and point out to your DH what the alternatives will be if you do not help her.

I agree with everyone who said 'give her the money', if you can afford it. It's £85 less to be included in inhertence tax!

We have always held the opinion that if we could afford it we would help DCs and DGDs. Why make life hard for her? It's hard enough. Congratulate her on the new job and gift the money to her. x

If she was my GD, I'd rather she was in debt to me (interest free) than to a payday loan company or even the bank. And if I could afford it, I'd give her the money.

Thanks you all for your replies I put it in her bank anyway, my husband does not have any responsibility for money he is just not bothered, I say transferred money from a to b to pay holidays etc his response OK.

Personally not worried if she pays it back but she said must pay you back suggested she split it over 3 months.

Yes I agree with others - if the money's there, help your GD. We've been helping our DD a lot recently because she's about to become a mum and is single so we are her only 'cushion'. She is very good with money, but I think we all know how expensive preparing for motherhood is. We couldn't stand by and see her struggle knowing there's money in our bank. What is the point of money if not to spend it where it's needed?

Your GD sounds sensible, and is not asking for the earth but just to cover her standing orders. I would gift her the money too, so that when she gets paid she isn't already behind with her money.

I would lend her the money, with an agreement how the loan will be repaid (even if it is over a long term). Once the firts couple of repayment have been made, we would then write the debt off. I think it important that they learn to manage debt. and not just expect a bail out.
Our GC are not old enough to need that, but we have done that with our children several times, unfortunately, they have now cleared us out, so have to sort out their money, which they seem to be managing very well.

I'm with those who say if you have the money, give it. Your granddaughter sounds as though she appreciates your help and wants to pay you back. Providing our young family members aren't taking the proverbial and appreciate the support, why not help out now if we can afford to. If we're lucky and able to work and save during our lives, it's when we're starting out that we are broke, rather than when we retire. I remember being 50 pence above the rate rebate amount when my oldest was a baby. Every single penny was accounted for. I'm relieved to be able to help my own adult children now, rather than when I pop my clogs.

I loaned money to DSs for deposit on a house and purchase of a car. Both paid me back in full by standing order - without being asked.

I would give money to family too, there is very little that I need and I would rather they had it now instead of struggling. I paid off DD's mortgage so that she could keep her home when she moved abroad and also gave DS the deposit for a home in London which was a very good investment.
I can remember having very little as a child and especially having to wait until mother could afford new shoes. I buy GC's shoes so that it is never an issue.

A friend of mine lent some money to her DS and really didn't want it paid back, but he insisted on doing so. She took all the money he gave her and bought Premium bonds with it, on his birthday she presented him with the bonds and wished him"Good luck".
I am all for passing money on, as long as you aren't struggling it is nice to share it around.

I'm not sure why your husband is so against you lending money to your grand daughter. Does she regularly ask to borrow money or not pay it back?

I would very willingly loan money to my children or grandchildren. Depending on the circumstances (e.g. if I thought the person was generally sensible with money and was not treating me like a "soft touch") I would just give her/him some money. You say it won't cause you hardship so I can't see why there is a problem helping out.

My mum and dad never helped us out (and my husband's parents lived in another country and weren't well off) and it was a real struggle for us sometimes. Both of us were of the mind that, if we could afford it, we would help our children and grandchildren when it was needed - and pay for some things they might otherwise have to forego, like holidays.

I do see pompa's point, though, that it's important for young people to learn to manage their finances without the expectation of being bailed out all the time. If your granddaughter often asks for loans, I would expect it to be paid back as arranged.

If you have the money I, like many others here, don't see the problem. Family matter more than money especially as you say you know she will pay you back. I have only recently been able to help my children out with small amounts, sometimes paid back sometimes not and I would do the same for my grandchildren were they old enough! I know that they are always available when I need them eg hospital visits or jobs that I can't do now and they are always taking me to shows, days out, bucket list ideas and even holidays. I just feel lucky to have them.

I wouldn't hesitate to give her the money.

I agree with everyone. Give the girl the money and good luck to her. Tell her its an early birthday present. It will be hard enough for her to balance her books as it is without a debt hanging over her. Does she already have a student loan? My GM didn't give us money directly when we were starting out but bought us a lot of useful stuff (furniture, TV etc) which was a big help and an indirect way to hand over some dosh.

I've got money that I've earned and look upon to lend as I please! Especially for such a relatively small amount, I wouldn't even have told or consulted on it. I also do that thing (as Pompa suggests) where a repayment scheme is agreed and then I write off a balance after a time if the family member is making an effort but falls behind...

I think as long as it's obvious they're not using you as a 'cash cow', but are sensible and in genuine need, then it's fine to lend or even give money to our DC or DGC.
Before I met my DH, I had a boyfriend who was an apprentice engineer. His pay was only £6 a week, but his mother resolutely took £1 from him each week for 'housekeeping'. He never quibbled about this. What he didn't know, however, but his mother told me on the quiet, was that she was putting it aside every week to present to him when he finished his apprenticeship. She didn't need the money, she said, but it was 'good training for him'. How right she was - I heard some years later that he was a self-made millionaire. (My DH's parents, on the other hand, not only never took any money off him, but they also paid for his travel to work season ticket. He isn't a millionaire )

In the circumstances of not getting money until the end of the month I would help out.
When DDs car failed its MOT and it was not worth repairing She took out a loan and I gave her some extra to ensure she coukd get the vehicle she needed. It was essential for getting to work.
She is paying me back interest free by Direct Debit.

My single-mum DGD is taking her wee boy on holiday, and is short of quite a bit of the balance (which has to be paid this week). She asked me for help with this or she'll lose the holiday. I'll pay it and she'll set up a direct debit to pay me back, at an amount she can afford each month. Normally I don't ask for repayment of any of the money I 'lend' to my family, as they do struggle financially. The reason I'm asking for repayment from DGD is that I feel she may have over-estimated the amount she could afford for this holiday, and it might make her think again the next time!
The way I see it, is that they may as well have it while they need it, as long as they don't take advantage.