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Family in financial strife Updated: 05 Jan 2010

Overview

"My mother started sending cheques away to Canada, the USA and UK in return for doing a page of puzzles, or buying jewellery which was junk," Kerri-Jane Wallis told us. "She would hide the letters from her family ... Over five years she would have sent away about $16,000 to $17,000, and there was no way I could stop her."

"I am seventy years old," Martha Nichols wrote to us. "My daughter asked me for a loan so that she could avoid bankruptcy. Since then she has not been able to gain employment, has gone on incurring debts, and is depressed. To date she owes me $96,000 (my retirement savings) and has not repaid a cent."

Financial problems tend to have a ripple effect. The Problem Gambling Foundation, for example, estimates that between 5 and 7 people, most of them family members, are affected by the behaviour of each problem gambler.

And the difficulties go far beyond just missing the odd power bill or credit card payment. Gamblers lose over $5 million every day, most of that through pokie machines in clubs and bars. Some gamblers are losing thousands of dollars a month.

Financial problems can go hand-in-hand with dishonest or unreliable behaviour, which in turn can contribute to job losses or relationship break-ups.

In some instances, the problem will be obvious, but in other cases it will remain hidden. If cash or assets start disappearing, a family member becomes vague about money or constantly asks for loans, or they conceal bank or credit card statements, you have cause for concern.