Sibling with Credit Card Debt

Philippines
November 29, 2011 6:43pm CST
Friends. We are having a family problem today about my sister who is down due to credit card use. She doesnt have a good paying salary and she has unpaid debt of 100thou in the card. Good thing that we are 9 in the family and we can help pay her credit card. This is the second time that the family would rescue her due to credit card irresponsibility. We all have our lives to live and financial accountabilities to attend to individually. We cant always pay for her debts. How would you stop your sister from using her credit card? How do you instill financial maturity to her?
1 person likes this
5 responses
30 Nov 11
If you're going to help her out of trouble, make her cut up her credit card(s). Don't help her otherwise - if she doesn't, she'll just use them again. When my lady and I ran into a bit of debt trouble with ours, that's what I did. Scissors, snip snip, won't make that mistake again!
30 Nov 11
The entire family is teaching her to be more complacent and irresponsible in handling her financial capabilities because she all knew that you will always be there to support her and pay her debts. Have a recount on her purchases, what is this for? Credit cards can either make or break you. If your sister cannot manage her finances, she will never learn. Have the card cut once and for all.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
30 Nov 11
Hi Graceekwenx. I think that the only way your sister is going to learn is if you guys stop saving her from herself. You are enabling her, not helping. I would suggest that she go and see a local consumer credit councellor. There they will lower her interest rate and her monthly payments. They also will give her financial councelling and teach her how to budget. The best thing about this program is that she will have to sign an agreement not to take out any more credit while in the program. Make sure that it is a local non-profit agency.
@rencarl (620)
• Philippines
30 Nov 11
hello there.your sister will never be financially responsible if you and all of your siblings will be always there to rescue her. responsibility must come from herself. she must realize this and the only way for her to realize this is for her to suffer the consequences.this is easier said than done of course. let us just put it this way. help her this time and for the last time.talk to her then cut all her credit card subscriptions.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
30 Nov 11
Hello! I don't know how would you say it to her but if my sister would be in credit card debt, I would tell her to have her card cut. I don't know your sisters' lifestyle and expenses, but I think what her usage is not for emergency purposes. I mean, tell her to live beyond her means and use the credit card for emergency purposes only. She is lucky to have you as her family! I wish my family is like yours who is there.