WWP&ED?

sarabellam

Hypothetically speaking of course, would you accept financial help offered by either your parents or your spouse's/FI's parents if you were laid off work and having trouble finding a job?

Nebb

Yes.

lyndausvi

Sure.  If they offered.  I would never ask them. 

sarahmk5

Yes.

WildRumpus

If they offered, yes.

[Deleted User]

Yes, if I really needed it.

sarabellam

Would it change your mind if you didn't think that the parents could really afford it?

[Deleted User]

Is the plan to pay them back once you get a job or is it a gift?

jamm2019

If they offered yes.

sarabellam

Hypothetically speaking, the offer was as a Christmas gift.

lyndausvi

It would depend on the amount.  If they wanted to pick up say the electric bill or buy some grocercies, I would still take it.  If they wanted to pick more than that than no.But unless you know your parents situation it's hard to know if they really do not have the money or not. 

kate51485

I would if they offered, but I would have to put it directly toward a bill, rent, or something like that...I'd feel bad just using it as cash.  And if they really couldn't afford it...I dunno it seems like they wouldn't be offering if it was a hardship?

punkyb2b

If it was my parents-maybe cause I know there would be no strings attached.  and I would repay them (or donate the amount they gave me to a charity causeI know they wouldnt take it back).DH's parents? Not a chance in helll.

sarabellam

Well, shiite. Looks like I was on the wrong side of this battle. Maybe he will compromise and try to convince his mom(s) and dad to let us pay them back when he gets a job. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

scoetto

Yes, I would. I would accept knowing I would pay them back, regardless. I would never ask for the money or ask if they wanted me to pay them back - it would be paid back. My/DH's parents finances are none of my business and I would assume if they offered an amount of money, it wouldn't be a hardship on them. I've been offered/given money in the past when I was in trouble and I paid most of it back (one situation friends told me not to worry about the remaining balance and to this day I feel like a douche for not paying it back, even though they said not to).

scoetto

May I ask why you continue to use "hypothetically speaking, of course" when I'm starting to get the idea it's not a hypothetical situation? :P

sarabellam

Comic effect, Sco. At which I failed obviously.

SwedishChick2011

Yes, if they offered and if we really, really needed it.

scoetto

Sara, I have yet to have any caffeine this morning. My brain isn't working yet.

[Deleted User]

If I really needed it badly, I would take it. I would do my best to pay it back, though. I would also assume that they would not give us the money if it was something they truly could not afford.

Marina007

It depends. If we really needed it, I would absolutely graciously accept. Accepting money, as reluctant as I would be, is better than not paying your bills.  Pride is only useful to a certain degree - if you can't get by, but your family offers to help, I say go for it.   If I could get by on my savings, I would say no thanks.I have always paid my own way, from when I moved for college at 18 until now, at 25.  However, I lived at home for free during the summer, and gladly accepted free dinners during this time.  I think there's a huge difference between "mooching" and accepting help when you really need it.Obviously I would pay back the money.

mandysmear

Absolutely I would.  THis would avoid having to charge anything to credit cards and what not.  It'd be a lot easier to pay back an interest free loan.  Plus I know that both our parents would insist on helping us out if need be.

Brie2010

When I was unemployed and FI was still waiting for his first checks from his job to come in, I did accept a bit of help from my mom, mostly so I could have some kind of health insurance.  Honestly, that's what family is for, and if SHE were unemployed and I was in a position to help HER, I would.

buttaflai

If they offered and we really needed it, I would accept and make plans to pay it back.

kikibaby

Yep.  They probably wouldn't offer if they couldn't afford it.

TheSaltyPeanut

ditto pps. Especially if they money would go to things like rent, electric, etc. I would feel strange using it as "cash."

sarah0725

I would and I have. Being in grad school, I only have steady work nine months out of the year, at basically slave wages, and so I always have to get another job during the summer. This year, I taught a summer course that was prorated because the enrollment was too small, so I only got half of what was originally promised me. I'm really grateful to both FI and my parents for helping me through that.

sarabellam

The money was offered to pay his car payment. I just feel like such a mooch and heel accepting this, even with plans to pay it back.

Bippy

If it meant keeping something superfluous, like my entertainment habits of cable TV, high speed internet or going out with friends... you know, beyond basic shelter, food and water, then I probably wouldn't.

wadingmoose

Yes.  Pride comes before a fall and all that.

dsouldiva

Parents hate to see their children struggling and if they really couldn't afford it they probably wouldn't offer it.If they are going in to debt to do this then no, if they aren't take the money and offer to pay it back or accept it as a christmas gift.