Should I lend money to my family?

March 15th 2018 | Categories: Home Loans & Leveraging Equity | Money, Family & Relationships |

Group of friends and family relaxing around a fire pit at a farm

You’re probably fairly used to helping your family out with a little extra cash here and there. Whether it’s pocket money for doing chores, or money to pay phone bills, go see a movie or buy clothes, for example.

But what happens when they put their hands out for help to buy the big-ticket items? They might want some money to buy a car, pay for a holiday or even get a deposit together to buy their first home.

The question is, even if you can afford to help your family financially, should you? It could provide them with a helping hand that’ll really make a difference, but you also must ensure your needs are looked after and you’re not leaving yourself short.


Are you stressing about whether or not you should hand over your hard earned savings to your loved ones? Get some advice and contact one of our advisers today.

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Here are some things to think about:

Providing financial support in other ways:

It’s a great, tax-free way of helping your family when they need financial help.

Just make sure you think carefully about whether your gift will put a dent in your retirement savings and if you’ll have enough for the lifestyle you want to lead when you wind down from work. Try the AMP retirement simulator to find out how much you’ll need.

Also, consider the impact on your Centrelink entitlements. If you’re receiving benefits, such as the Age Pension, for example, a loan or gift to your child may impact on your payments and your financial security. You must tell Centrelink about any gifts or transfers within 14 days of when they have occurred.

This is one way to help your family own their tomorrow whether it’s buying a car or first home, but be careful not to put your own home or lifestyle at risk in the process. Make sure you only go guarantor for an amount that you can comfortably afford to pay if your family defaults on payments.

What else to consider

Whatever option you choose to help support your family:

If all else fails, you can get in touch with us if you would like to discuss your circumstances.

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What you need to know

This information is provided by Invest Blue Pty Ltd (ABN 91 100 874 744). The information contained in this article is of general nature only and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person. Therefore, before making any decision, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice with regards to those matters and seek personal financial, tax and/or legal advice prior to acting on this information. Read our Financial Services Guide for information about our services, including the fees and other benefits that AMP companies and their representatives may receive in relations to products and services provided to you.