Would you help and how? Family issue.

[creditcardfree]

I think Rent is a bit more then what OP was thinking of with food gift cards.

Maybe so. Some are able to help that generously. Obviously not all are.

The truth is unless one knows the details of anyone's situation it is hard to know what gift will have the biggest impact, yet I'm sure all are appreciated.

[Nutria]

Would they become dependent on you, and angry/bitter when you stopped, after agreeing that you'd only help them for say three months?

Would they slip back into their not-so-wise spending habits?

Does your wife want to help her sister?

[Like2Plan]

Would you help and how?

Tell them you had a bond that unexpectedly matured or you won a contest (which you actually did win a contest recently so it isn't too far fetched) and you wanted to share in your good fortune. Slip them a check or some cash.

[msomnipotent]

Would you help and how?

Tell them you had a bond that unexpectedly matured or you won a contest (which you actually did win a contest recently so it isn't too far fetched) and you wanted to share in your good fortune. Slip them a check or some cash.

I was going to say this. I would tell them that I won a gift card in a holiday raffle for a grocery store I don't shop at and was wondering if they wanted it. When I was going through hard times, I was most concerned with finding and paying for health insurance and my medications, but food was a close second.

[scfr]

Could you pay some of their medical expenses anonymously? A friend of mine who struggled financially as a single mom while working and going to school had someone pay her child's day care bill anonymously and she was enormously grateful.

Does your wife visit her sister often? If so, she could always go with a gift of food in hand. Those are easy to explain: "I made way more ----- than we can possibly eat" or "I wanted to try this ----- but the store only had big packages and I don't have the space for all of it." She could even slip a small cash bill in to her sister's purse every once in awhile.

[myrdale]

Overall, it sounds like a difficult situation, but at least there are no kids involved.

I might suggest your wife ask her sister if there is anything at all they could help with, and then go from there.

You didn't indicate there were any drug or alcohol issues, so I'd be more likely to want to help where I could. It doesn't sound like they are "bad" people, financially or other wise. It just sounds like they are average.

If they needed a car, from my assumptions of your situation, I'd spend $5k in a heart beat for them, gift free and clear.

On the other hand, I don't want to set myself up as an alternative income (say $100 per month for 50 months). Yes it is the same net value, but it's all a mind set for me.

The free housing should help greatly, but if with medical bills they are still coming up short I don't know.

It may be worth while to put some time in figuring what government services there are out there they can apply for. Section 8 housing, EBT, medicaid and the rest. I should imagine they are already enrolled in some of these, but anything additional they can qualify for would help.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Yes I would. However are you sure maybe they couldn't help moving in with mom early? Perhaps bring it up as a caretaker role that will allow them more flexibility. And maybe help find a job? Or the car. I'm unsure what they could need that would be easy for them to acccept.