My husband and I have been married for nearly seven years, but wed known each other for a long time before tying the knot. Over the years, we both worked hard and managed to save enough for our own house, which we actually built together.
Before moving into our home, we lived in the flat that belonged to my husband. Hed renovated it just before the wedding, and even after all these years, its still in excellent shape.
So, when we moved out, we never even considered renting the flat to anyone else. We really didnt want the condition of the place to worsen, so we decided it was best to just leave it as it was.
Not long ago, about six months back, my parents gifted us another flat right in the city centre. There was no real reason to sell it, as wed already spent most of our savings on the house and didnt need the extra cash.
My husband and I agreed wed do a bit of redecorating and update the furnishings before too long, in case we decided to let the property to tenants. We wanted to make sure it wouldnt be too dingy.
So, both flats have been sitting empty, which hadnt gone unnoticed by my sister-in-law. One evening during a family dinner, she brought it up.
She commented that we had two empty properties going to waste. She understood needing one, but thought two were unnecessary, especially when there are families in need.
The thing is, she and her husband were hoping to buy a house in a new development. But finances were tight, and they were only halfway there, hesitating over a mortgage because their pay wasnt great.
The conversation got a bit uncomfortable when my sister-in-law began to elaborate. She said that, in her view, we should sell one of our flats and use the proceeds to help her and her husband. As for the rest of the money, we could put it in the bank so it would earn some interest. She did say theyd pay us back over time, but it would take several years.
I could tell my husband was awkward about it all. We already help our family as much as we can, both practically and financially, but what they were asking was rather a lot.
So, I decided to answer her directly myself. I pointed out that it was a serious matter. If we helped them as she suggested, theyd get a flat, but wed be left without one. Wed only have a bit of money left in savings, and nowhere else to live.
Besides, who knows when wed actually get the rest of the money back? These kinds of significant financial decisions should always be approached with the utmost care, even among family.
As you might expect, bringing this up at dinner put a damper on the atmosphere. My sister-in-law glared at me, clearly disgruntled, and my husband swiftly changed the subject.
In life, its important to support those we care about, but its just as crucial to protect our own wellbeing and future. Being generous doesnt mean putting your own security at risksometimes the most loving answer is also the wisest one.
