The āBank of Mum and Dadā..... Um, yes please!
The life and struggles of Isabella
BOMAD. Itās a crazy idea having a āBank of Mum and Dadā isnāt it? But in todayās day and age has it become essential for the upwardly financially mobile. The question Iām trying to figure out is whether itās a bad idea overall for us Gen X and Yās who seek independence and spending freedom to use or even come to rely upon the āBank of Mum and Dadā.
The rebooted āBank and Mum and Dadā, got its origins in an age old lending practice. I remember being told that my grandparents used a loan from their parents to buy a restaurant in Northbridge in 1948. Even though it was an established practise back in those days it didnāt have a name - it was just what you did - get help from family, not the banks. During the early 2000s banks took over and easy credit was available. That's changed too. Today people are increasingly turning away from the banks and relying once again on friends and family for financial support. Many of my friends are perfect examples getting support from the BOMAD while studying and getting on their feet.
There are significant benefits of borrowing and lending from the BOMAD. Many of which (or the most important to me) surround the idea of not drowning in debt.
Mortgages, credit cards, registrations, repayments, deductions, HECS and fees are some of the expenses that drain our bank accounts daily. I feel like the expenses of a Gen X and Y within todayās society are constantly growing, ultimately making myself and most of my fellow youth hate the big banks and businesses. Everything has a cost, and the lure of a small monthly direct debit sounds great, but they add up fast, and then your finances are squeezed and these monthly payments out of your bank account just keep on coming.
The idea of the BOMAD also becomes a sound idea when you consider the removal of the negative features that are attached to a bank loan or credit card. The most important one that constantly rings on my mind is the idea of interest and how much a company can make off us. From the BOMAD interest is hardly ever an issue and if it is there at all. It certainly isnāt ever nearly as steep as a bank loan. Another consideration is that thereās no damage to your credit rating if you are late or canāt repay for a couple of months, which letās face it, could be detrimental in the future when you need to take on a mortgage or canāt go to the BOMAD.
However, as we look closely at the appeal of the positives of using the BOMAD, we canāt help but establish the dangers and negative aspects when borrowing from family.Ā For me borrowing money from my parents can turn sour very quickly. When an argument arises, bringing up a past loan and using it against me is an automatic response.Ā In my parent's eye borrowing money from them also gives them the right to complain about my spending habits and that may ultimate influence them when Iāve asked for help.
Along with arguments and bitter endings when borrowing from parents comes the issue of repayments. Iāve never had the steadiest of incomes and money coming into my accounts always fluctuates. So for me skipping repayments or saying Iāll give it back soon plays from my mouth like a record on repeat. In my mind I always hope that there's an off chance theyāll let me off paying it back. That maybe if I donāt mention it, theyāll forget about it or even let me off. But nope, letās not get too excited, that barely ever happens and just makes them mad that Iām not paying it back.
Besides all these relationship dramas when borrowing from the BOMAD, we also risk putting our parents in an undesirable financial situation. Along with all the bills and payments our parents have to pay, further expenses surrounding health tend to arise as they grow older - because letās face it, we canāt all be young and healthy forever.
When I made the discovery of Credi.com, things became a little clearer. Letās start with their motto, āA company empowering the bank of mum and dadā, this got me searching straight away! Credi.com is a platform that allows people to formalise their loans and then manage them - protecting their relationships, avoiding disagreements. Their platform provides users with transparency, flexibility and formality to informal agreements. The best thing being they donāt touch your money, they just help facilitate the process of a loan between family and friends. Not only can you navigate the system fairly easily, Credi.com pretty much formulates everything for you - just add the details.
After this discover I felt like the BOMAD wasnāt such a bad idea. Not only does it feel comforting to be able to get financial support from people we trust and love, but it can also be done in a way that can be managed like a formal loan and not impede on a relationship. Next time I need financial support from my parents, Iāll have the peace of mind knowing everything will be safe and secure through Credi.com.
