My Sister is a Leech

Hi Scott,
 
My older sister is 41 and still heavily dependent on my retired parents. She recently lost her job and has no savings, and also has mental health issues. My parents keep bailing her out when she runs out of money, but I’m concerned they are now using their retirement funds for this. She won’t take steps like reading Barefoot to help her out of her financial funk, and when she does have money she blows it on takeaway food and online shopping. How can my parents stop enabling her and help her become financially independent at such a late age?
 
Tanya
 
Hi Tanya,
 
Here’s how I’d look at it:
 
Your parents and your sister are in a beaten-up old Kingswood on a long, bumpy drive.
 
None of them are paying any attention to where they’ll end up … they’re just glad the old banger keeps on keeping on.
 
You’re not in the car with them, Tanya.
 
So what can you do?
 
Three things.
 
First, show them where they’ll end up: your parents’ money will eventually be gone (even if she gets an inheritance after they pass) and your sister will likely be stone cold broke.
 
Second, offer to help your sister help herself (again), perhaps by referring her to a financial counsellor or working through the Barefoot Steps with her.
 
Finally, let everyone know that you will not be taking your parents’ place in the driver’s seat when the old banger runs out of juice!

Scott