Youngest sister and her dh have been living beyond their means for years now. They have a very good income (almost £100k between them), but live pay period to pay period.
A few years ago, they were in a real bind that was avoided by using a small inheritance to bail themselves out. Another time, they were in crisis mode with credit card debt (think around £30k), but used money from sale of Mum's house (after her death) to stay afloat.
Rather than learn a lesson from those financial crisis, they still seem unable to deny themselves anything. They've bought expensive German cars, art, jewelry, motorcycles, designer clothes/handbags, had cosmetic surgery, taken first class holidays, etc. They also bought a nice home in the most expensive part of the city which they have completely gutted/rebuilt, and extended (twice!).
He lost his job a year ago. They cut back their spending, but used the balance of the inheritance money to live. He has now found another job - but at half his previous salary. They are now dipping into savings to meet their obligations each month, but this strategy cannot be sustained as they will have exhausted their nest egg in another 2-3 years.
The mortgage is their biggest problem - takes her entire income to pay it each month. They made a half-hearted attempt to sell the house a year ago, but had little interest as it is a quirky house (with the extensions they did), and priced too high.
Long way of saying: they are speeding toward a financial brick wall, but seem to have their heads in the sand. It will be awful when they finally 'crash'. They will be desperate, and will inevitably turn to me and our other sister for help (we both live modestly, and have savings).
We are worried, and don't know what to do. We've spoken to her about our concerns, and she listens, but then just carries on. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.
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To decline to help my sister financially? Long.....
55 replies
Earlybird · 25/11/2012 13:57
OP posts:
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