Yeah, I’ve been there too—my cousin and I tried to split a place, thinking it’d be easier with family. We ended up nickel-and-diming each other over utilities and random repairs. It’s awkward asking your own family for $23.50 for a plumber, but letting it slide just builds resentment. Honestly, putting everything in writing up front felt weird, but it kept things clear and way less stressful in the long run. Family and money just mix weird sometimes…
It’s awkward asking your own family for $23.50 for a plumber, but letting it slide just builds resentment.
Man, this hits home. I once spent months chasing my brother for his half of the water bill—felt ridiculous, but ignoring it just made me annoyed every time I saw him. Honestly, I used to think “it’s family, we’ll figure it out,” but nope... boundaries and clear agreements save everyone a headache. Money and relatives just don’t mix as easily as you’d hope.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve been on both sides—sometimes the one asking, sometimes the one being asked. It’s weird, right? You’d think with family, things would be more relaxed, but money just has a way of making things tense.
When my cousin and I co-owned a place for a bit, we actually wrote down every shared expense in a notebook. Felt a bit formal at first, but it saved us from those awkward “uh, did you pay me for the gutter cleaning?” conversations. I know some folks use apps now to track stuff, but even a scrap of paper works if you’re both on board.
I wonder if the same kind of clear tracking could help with bigger things, like family home sales. Anyone ever tried putting everything in writing, even when it’s just between siblings or parents? I always worry about trust getting tangled up with paperwork, but honestly... not having it spelled out seems riskier in the long run.
