I have a friend who has fallen on hard times.?

Question

Well he used to be a co worker of mine. Due to reasons of his own, he had to leave the job. He kind of lost everything. Now he is staying with his best friend. He does everything for this friend, I mean to pay for his keep, he takes care of the house, does all the yard work, even made a paver patio for his friend, but his friend treats him badly, he hardly has food to eat, barely has any essentials. I tell him to stay with me, but he is a co worker not really a good friend. He is finding it hard to find work, and I can understand that in essence he is working for his friend so you would figure his friend would treat him better. What advice could I give this guy? I really feel his friend is taking advantage of him. His friend fired his lawn guy and every other worker he had.....shouldn't he compensate this man a little better. Sad times, sad times.

Answer 1

YES THE GUY SHOULD PAY HIS FRIEND FOR MOWING THE LAWN,,N IF THIS GUY IS PAYING RENT HE SHOULDNT MAKE THIS GUY DO ANYTHING,,I WOULD KEEP TALKING TO THE GUY N TELL HIM HOW WRONG THIS GUY IS,,AND IF HE WONT TAKE YOUR ADVISE THEN THERES NOTHING MORE U CANDO,,JUST LET HIM NO WHEN HE GETS TIRED OF THIS GUY PUSHING HIM AROUND N TRYING TO TREAT HIM LIKE A SLAVE YOUR HOME IS OPEN TO HIM,,,HEY HE COULD PUT A AD IN THE PAPER TO DO WORK ON THE SIDE LIKE HE DID FOR THE SLAVE DRIVER,,HE CAN MAKE BIG BUCKS DOING THAT KIND OF WORK,,,PEACE

Answer 2

While on the surface it may look like he's being taken advantage of, it's possible there's other issues at work. Your friend may be getting money that he's not telling you about. Whatever issues he's had, it sounds like it cost him a lot. Likely he has some kind of addiction. So he may be blowing what he does get.

Also, his friend may be deliberately keeping him broke so he has motivation to find a job instead of just live comfortably and easy at his friend's place.

Answer 3

Let's name the 'best friend' Bob. Tell your co worker that Bob is taking advantage of him. Offer him to live with you once he realizes that Bob is taking advantage of him. Or tell Bob to treat him better. Hope this helps!!

Answer 4

First of all you state you don't know him very well. So goodness do not take him into your home! You need to learn the other side of the story. I doubt it is as bad as he is telling you. If he really wanted to work he would have a job, somewhere. Maybe not doing what he wants but doing something. Obviously if he is good at laying a patio and yard work if he wanted work he could find it.

What about his family. WARNING! If someone you don't know really well falls on hard times and don't have family helping them, then usually there is good reason for that. Likely he is a user, finds people to feel sorry for him and take care of him.

If he is willing to be a housekeeper in exchange for room and board that is his problem. No one put a gun to his head and made him do it.

If he wants to be compensated he should discuss it with the person he lives with, not you. Sounds like he is ungrateful and needy.

Do you really want that responsibility in your life. I'm likely much older than you are and used to be a bleeding heart. I still help people but I'm sure careful who I help. Because I have learned there is usually a good reason of there own doing that puts people in the position to be so needy. And they usually are flakes forever.

Be his friend, listen to him but goodness don't offer him a place to live or loan him money.

Answer 5

help him  

Answer 6

First talk to him. Find out if that really is the case. If you don't positively know you may cause more problems. Once you find out offer it to him and than let him decide what he wants to do.