AIBU To ask friend for money for a meal for her DC ?

[KeziaK]

My lovely friend is a high flier and well paid and working very long hours. I have been helping her out while one of her children has been seriously ill.
I have taken meals round and had the kids round for meals. This is leaving us uncomfortably short of money. Do I ask for money? It feels uncomfortable.

I agree with the others - if she is financially comfortable she probably won't have realised that extra groceries/ meals are stretching your budget.

You need to find a way to tell her and not propogate the confusion further. I think sera's text was misleading. There was better wording soemwhere up the page but I can't remember the posters name.

I would be honest and let her know you are happy to help but need a cash injection. Only issue would be if childs illness is affecting her own ability to earn - I have several well paid friends who have had ill children with significant stays in city centre hospitals. Even they found the extra food costs (eating out a lot) really burdened them.

I would be honest; and would be horrified if a friend was helping me out and struggling financially and worrying about it as a result. Just tell her that you love having her DC, are more than happy to help out (as she will know if you have been friends for that long) but that things are a bit tight right now and you will have to stop offering food as a result. If I was her, I would be grabbing my cheque book double quick and not resent it at all. Be honest. I hope that your friends DC is ok. You sound like a fab friend.

I don't think you can ask for money for time that has already passed.

If it's causing a problem financially you will have to say that you will need some money if going to feed them in future. If you explain this to them sure it will be fine.

Yabu to bill for the help you have already offered but you can start to draw boundaries. As others have suggested, cook dinner at her house so you are using her ingredients but still helping her. Don't be so quick to offer if its causing you problems. Her head is probably all over the place & is not thinking about the inconvenience her need is causing there.

Does she have family or friends nearby to help? Could she/you organise a rota amongst you all so the practicsl support doesnt fall on one person.