‘I’m burned out’: I’m constantly helping my cousin who is running out of money. Is it too much to expect his sister to help?

This situation reflects a broader reality in personal finance: caregiving within families often falls unevenly, and the strain is both emotional and financial. The writer describes spending time away from their own family, plus money on gas and meals, while helping a cousin who is running out of funds. That combination — direct costs plus indirect costs like lost time — is easy to underestimate, because it rarely appears as a single line item in a budget.

The question of whether a sibling should share the load has no universal answer, but it points to a practical planning gap. Informal support arrangements usually lack clear boundaries, timelines, or agreed contributions, which can lead to resentment long before anyone names it. Financial advisers often suggest separating one-time emergency help from ongoing support, since the latter can quietly become a permanent expense.

What to watch: whether the family can agree on a defined scope of help and a point at which other options — public benefits, community programs, or professional advice — are explored. Clarifying roles early tends to cost less than absorbing the burden alone until exhaustion sets in.