All week, my mom kept telling me that family should help each other. My brother needed seventy thousand crowns and she knew I had some savings. It wasn’t until Sunday lunch that I asked how much she would lend him herself.
Marek started working for himself a year ago. He lays floors and usually has more work than he can handle. When my mom called saying he needed to borrow money, I thought maybe his car or tools had broken down.
“He’s waiting to get paid for one job and now he has to pay for materials for the next,” she explained. “It’s just for a little while. That money is just sitting in your account.”
I had mentioned my savings to her a few weeks earlier. After years of living paycheck to paycheck, I had managed to put aside ninety-five thousand crowns. I didn’t have them earmarked for anything specific. It was a cushion for rent, car repairs, and anything else I’d otherwise have to take a loan for.
I told my mom I’d talk to Marek first. But over the next few days, she called again. She reminded me how my brother helped me move and that he wouldn’t be able to cover the job unless he paid the supplier. In the end, she invited both of us for Sunday lunch so we could talk it over.
He Couldn’t Promise When He’d Pay Me Back
At the table, Marek explained that the client still owed him for a finished floor. He’d expected the money last month, but now there were issues with handing over the work. Marek believed the invoice would be paid eventually, but he didn’t know when.
“If you lend me the seventy, I’ll pay you back as soon as it comes in,” he said.
I asked what he’d do if the client didn’t pay for another month. Marek shrugged. He had other jobs lined up, but couldn’t promise when he’d get paid for them. I understood why he needed help. It was also clear I could be without most of my savings for a long time.
Mom listened and then said, “You know he’s hardworking. You’re not going to leave him hanging just because of one late payment.”
I asked if she could at least lend him part of the money. She owns her own house and I know she has some savings too. She wouldn’t have to take on all the risk herself.
“I can’t touch that money,” she replied. “I’ll need it to fix the roof.”
She’d planned to have the roof checked in the spring. I understood why she kept a reserve for it. I was just surprised she hadn’t wanted to hear my reasons all week.
“I pay rent and I need to have enough to fix my car if it breaks down,” I said. “If I lend Marek seventy thousand, I’ll be left with almost nothing.”
Mom argued that I have a regular paycheck. Marek, meanwhile, stared at his plate. After a while, he said we should just drop it. He’d wanted to ask me for help himself and felt uncomfortable that it had turned into a family lunch topic.
My Brother and I Managed to Work It Out
That evening, Marek texted me to say he was sorry Mom had put so much pressure on me. He would try to arrange installment payments with the supplier and sort out the client’s payment himself. I told him he could always call if he wanted to talk, but I couldn’t promise him seventy thousand.
Mom was a bit cold with me for a few days. She thought I could have helped and chose not to. I told her I respected her decision to keep her money for the roof. I needed her to respect mine too.
In the end, Marek agreed with the supplier on two payments. It was still a stressful time for him and he had to postpone buying some materials. When we saw each other a few weeks later, we talked as usual. Mom never brought up the subject again.
I wished my brother would finish the job and get paid. At the same time, I needed to know that if something happened to me next month, I’d have enough to pay my own bills. Mom understood that about her own savings from the start.
Good luck!
