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 </figure>A very generous offerDear Dave,My in-laws have very generously offered my wife and I
$250,000 to help with a down payment on a home. I know the amount exceeds the
IRS’s yearly gift allowance, but they want to structure it as a family loan and
have already told us they don’t care if we pay it back. If we accept, we
technically owe them a lot of money. If we say no, they may be offended. What
do you think about this and how it might impact the relationship?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; JamesDear James,Well, it makes sense your wife would be onboard with
the whole thing. It’s her dad making the offer, so of course she would
be a lot more comfortable with the idea than you are. &nbsp;This is a big
deal, and it’s something you two should have a very serious conversation about.
Get on the same page in every regard. Also, I’d recommend making sure you get everything
in writing. See to it, as well, that it can be forgiven at the maximum allowable
annual <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/grandparent-giving-unspoken-secrets-you-must-know">gift</a>
rate. In addition, in the event of death make sure it’s
included in the estate, it’s forgiven, and there will be zero call on the note.
In effect, that would make it an advance on your inheritance instead of <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-truth-about-debt-reduction">debt.</a>
Under no circumstances should they, or any other heirs, have grounds to call
the note.&nbsp; That’s a good question, James. And a nice gift!DaveKeeping the side hustle aliveDear Dave,I have a full-time job, but I also have a side job
providing firewood to help pay off debt. I make $600 to $1,000 a month with
this project. My log splitter went down recently when a hydraulic line burst,
and the machine caught on fire. I’m not sure how much it will cost to get it
going again. Should I invest in a new one that will increase my productivity
and help me pay off debt faster? ChrisDear Chris,If I’m in your shoes, I’m going to fix the old one.
Even it means duct tape and glue, I’m going to try to find a way to repair it
instead of spending a bunch of money or going deeper into debt.If you can’t do that at a reasonable price out of
pocket, I’d be in the market for a decent, used log splitter. And <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/askdave/home-buying/why-wouldnt-you-pay-cash">pay
cash!</a> I get your line of thinking when it comes to
increasing productivity. Splitting wood is real work. But don’t try to justify
buying an expensive, new piece of equipment when it’s just not necessary. If you’re making that much with a <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/ingredients-for-a-winning-side-hustle?int_cmpgn=new_year_campaign_2018&amp;int_dept=dr_blog_bu&amp;int_lctn=Blog-Text_Link&amp;int_fmt=text&amp;int_dscpn=ny18_jumpstart_day2_make_a_zero_based_budget-winning_side_hustle_link">side
hustle</a>, you can make your money back on a used splitter in a
month or two—three at the most. Be smart about it, Chris!&nbsp;&nbsp; DaveDave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including&nbsp;The Total Money Makeover.&nbsp;The Dave Ramsey Show&nbsp;is heard by more than 16 million listeners each week on 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/">daveramsey.com</a>&nbsp;and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.

DAVE SAYS: A very generous offer and a side hustle