Do the right thing in a recession

Nothing is wrong with someone cutting costs these days -- until it starts costing you. So how do you respond when your neighbor says that his sales commissions are down 40% and he has to postpone removing his dead tree that's threatening to fall on your garage? Or when your brother tells you that he can't pay his share of the 50th-anniversary party you're giving your parents? You know he's strapped, but you think he could chip in if he tried.

What to do

Tough times don't give people the right to unilaterally abandon their obligations. If you're confident the economizer isn't seriously squeezed but only squeezing you, you need to explain to him -- nicely, of course -- that his modus frugalitatis is coming at your expense and that he needs to cut back elsewhere.

If someone's truly hurting, though, you should try to find a way to give him a break, though not necessarily a subsidy. If you have to pay for a tree removal that's your neighbor's responsibility, or for your brother's share of that party, there's nothing wrong with asking them to promise to reimburse you when their fortunes improve.

NEXT: Who gets the short straw at work?