Should I ask for the money back?

[DeadlyNightShadeofViolet]

Last Christmas I lent my Mum some money - just under £500. Its alot of money for us and we could really do with it right now. DH needs some dental work doing and we have had to hire a private OT for DS2, plus Christmas and the fact DH is self employed and isnt expecting another paypacket until the spring.

So I know I should ask for the money back, but I am a wimp. Plus my Mum is on a very low wage and is a lone parent(Low enough to recieve HB top-up). She is in a spiral of pay-day loans and often robs Peter to pay Paul. (to be fair in the past I paid these off for her but she took out more)

I dont know what to do. I dont want my Mum to struggle, but we are going to struggle without it. DH is pushing me to do something about it.

Woud you say something? She hasnt mentioned it since Easter. I know she wont have forgotten, and she she does know we are struggling.

You should have discussed a payback plan before handing over the money. You've said yourself that handouts in the past have just ENABLED her behaviour to continue.

Whilst it's one thing to lend money you're unlikely to get back to someone when you can afford to lose it, you can't. This is affecting your own family. can't afford your kid's dental bills? This is awful and your mum, although i'm sure hasn't done it on purpose, has endangered your own financial security - if you take nothing from her in terms of repayment, take this episode as a lesson. i've learnt this the hard way myself (in my case, a friend taking advantage)

I would bring it up with her and ask how you can set up getting it repayed, but I don't think it's fair to ask for it all immediately if you didn't set a time limit or agreement on the loan at the time.