Helping family can involve money, time, housing or all three. A scenario can make the practical effect visible without deciding what you owe anyone.
Build the support clearly
- Add the amount and how often it may be needed.
- Include travel, care, food or housing costs that come with it.
- Model any reduction in your own paid work.
- Try a time-limited version and an ongoing version.
- Keep a buffer for your own essentials and emergencies.
Then name the boundaries that the numbers cannot choose, such as how long the arrangement lasts and who else can help.
Worth knowing: Sustainable help is still help. A plan that protects both households may last longer than a promise made under pressure.