Dear Scott,
My girlfriend of one year asked me to loan her a large sum of money, because she did not want to wait the additional time for a check to clear. I felt uncomfortable about the situation and said no. She dumped me immediately and the reason was that she was in a jam and I was not there to help her, thus our relationship was a bad one. Was this appropriate behavior from or should I have loaned her the money?
Scott:
Here’s a simple rule about mixing money and relationships: Don’t do it! It’s too risky and often more trouble than it’s worth. Plus, loans are what we have banks for, right? Baby girl must live near a glue factory to think you would compromise your financial security when she didn’t even really need it. Your reluctance demonstrated good common sense and dumping you was the best favor she could have done you.
Going forward, change nothing about yourself and your conduct in your relationships. Life’s too short and most of us have ten decades or less on this rock to find “the one” and achieve true happiness.