Latest news with #SherriePalm
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Here's what readers had to say about incessant robocalls, robotexts and scams
Columnist James E. Causey May 31 wrote about his frustration with robocalls, robotexts and frequent scam calls. We asked readers to share their experiences and advice for coping. The most colorful comment came from Alan Mark of Watertown who advised: "I use a pocket-size air horn to send them away. It works…" Thanks to everyone who sent a comment. Here they are: No financial loss on this end, but yes frustration. I no longer answer any calls on my cell or landline; if it's important, caller must leave a message. That gives me pause because as a nonprofit founder, I receive calls from practitioners, researchers, industry connects, or patients in high anxiety. Why haven't the powers that be outlawed robocalls? My husband likes to play with them, leading them on through extended untruthful conversation. I keep telling him that just adds his name to more lists as reachable. In my opinion, the national Do Not Call Registry list is far less than a functional system. This issue should be addressed by government restrictions. I don't care if it's state or federal, someone please fix this! Sherrie Palm, Mukwonago I have fun with telemarketers. Whatever they tell me they're selling, I tell them that is exactly what I do for a living. I tell them I'll buy their product if they buy mine. They hang up on me! Jim Labradori, Oconomowoc I never answer phone calls of numbers that I don't recognize. If it's someone, or something important they will leave a voicemail. Speaking of voicemail. If I get a call identified as "potential spam," I answer and hit mute. The automated dialer on the other end will hang-up after 5 to 30 seconds. This stops the automated caller from leaving an unwanted voicemail that I have to listen to and delete. I reply "stop" to unwanted texts and this seems to have lessened the amount that I receive. David Mancl, West Allis I recommend every person listen to the podcast :The Perfect Scam" by AARP. It has been available since about 2019. The episodes are about 30 minutes each and feature real people who have fallen prey to scams. They detail just about every kind of typical scam people encounter, from old school romance scams, to calls from loved ones who say they're in trouble, to phony computer issues, or bank/government notices, to the ones you mentioned with the phony house sales, etc. Most were phone or email during COVID-19 times, but as the years go by, they become more and more geared toward texts. also, AARP websites provide lots of info about the same. They are very concerned with elder abuse and scams, which cause heartache and loss of entire savings. When my late husband was still alive, he got a call from a guy who said he had my (step) daughter in custody after an 'accident.' They demanded money to release her. I told him it was a scam, but he couldn't reach her on my phone, I talked him into going to the police department, and they reassured us it was a common scam. We finally got ahold of our stepdaughter. She had her phone off at work. The police told us to hang up whenever we get such a call, not to even be polite. Then call the person allegedly involved. People get rattled and do foolish things because the scammers are relentless. 'If only' is a phrase of regret from people who don't pause to take a breather. Anyone can get sucked into scams. AI is going to make it even harder to discern what is real. Nancy Huber, New Berlin I just no longer answer the telephone (both landline and cell) unless I recognize the number or the name. I let everything else go to message. If it's a legitimate call they will leave me a legitimate message. Text I just never respond too. Perry Holzman, Two Rivers Several years ago I subscribed to a service called RoboKiller. For less than $100 per year, it intercepts every call placed to my cell phone number. As a result, zero robocalls get through to me. Non-robo callers can leave a message. Once I call a number back, the caller gets through to me thereafter. And the people I call frequently get through when they call me. Being free from receiving robocalls has been liberating. As a 'Senior citizen' at 75, I'm in the group of people most targeted by scammers. It seems odd in 2025 that the cell phone companies and our federal government can't figure out a solution to this plague. Peter Christianson, Pewaukee My new phone system allows me to block the phone number being used by the caller. After using it for a "possible spam call" I realized I had blocked the number of some friends. So I deleted all blocked numbers and started over, listening to each call before blocking. In the past three weeks, I have received over 50 spam calls that I have blocked. This is ridiculous. Whatever happened to the no call list? Leon E Burzynski, Waukesha I also get many calls and and texts asking if I want to sell my home. They know my address, which is creepy. I started replying no, but I might want to buy your home and ask them for their address. This usually results in stunned silence and ends the conversation rather quickly. Steve Stein, Oak Creek Replying STOP does not do any good because I feel most of the callers (robo or not) get their information from a third party and the third party does not get the STOP message. It's time laws are passed to more severely penalize those who call numbers on the do not call lists. It also seems to me that with all the great technology this country has, it could be used to block calls that emanate from the same general source, that's not a verifiable source. Lastly, it's time for do not call lists apply to political action calls. Joseph Streator, Oconomowoc Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Readers share how they cope with flood of scam calls | Letters
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Uncomfortable Conversations: Borrowing money from family can be awkward. Here's advice.
Borrowing money from family is awkward enough. But borrowing money from your parents when you are in your 60s is humiliating, Sherrie Palm told me. Palm of Mukwonago, Wisconsin founded the nonprofit Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support in 2010. Palm said she funded the nonprofit and its efforts out of her own money – and didn't take a salary. I am "poor as a church mouse," she said. Welcome back to Uncomfortable Conversations About Money, a recurring series where we will tackle challenging topics or situations around money that make you uneasy. We'll outline the problem and try to get you some usable solutions. The problem: In 2014, Palm needed $3,000 to go to Nepal, which was the only country in the world to have a government campaign about pelvic organ prolapse. She got up the nerve to ask her parents, the late Phil and Joan Kastner, for the money. Her dad enthusiastically said yes, Palm said. Her mom, who had grown up with financial difficulties and was tighter with money, frowned. But the next day, Palm's mom took her to the bank to get the money. Palm, now 71, and her parents never outlined when or how she would pay them back. At the time of the loan, Palm's mom had the early stages of what the family later found out to be Alzheimer's. Her mom wrote a sticky note that said "Sher borrowed $3,000," put the date on it and stuck it to the side of her computer. No one thought anything of the loan until five years later when a family member found the note among layers of sticky notes on the desk while cleaning. The relative alerted the grandkids. That turned into "soap opera" drama as Palm describes it, among that generation, who'd been hoping to inherit the family farm, but were not in their grandparents' will. Palm's dad was furious when he heard that the younger generation was creating a problem about the unpaid loan. Palm's two brothers, who understood she struggled financially, were not bothered by it. Her mom, whose Alzheimer's had progressed, didn't react to the family drama, Palm said. After awhile, things calmed down. Palm's dad died unexpectedly in 2020. "It still makes me sick that I was not able to pay the loan back prior to dad dying, but dad was very proud of my work," Palm said. Palm's mom died in 2022, which then led to Palm and her siblings spending the next 2½ years sorting through belongings and preparing the the farm for sale (The grandchildren who had wanted the farm, in Mauston, Wisconsin, didn't have the means to buy the it). The farm sold for $300,000 and Palm took the $3,000 she owed out of her portion of the inheritance. Palm said had she known the drama that would have ensued from borrowing the money, she would not have asked. She would have taken that as a sign that she shouldn't go on that trip to Nepal. In retrospect, Palm wishes she and her parents had come up with a clear payment plan or expectations of when she should pay the money back. Palm said she thinks if she had on paper an agreement such as "I'll pay back $50 a month," that she would have probably gone out to get an extra job "to make that magic happen." Having an agreement and something on paper would have made Palm feel responsibility for the loan, "kind of like when you get that charge card bill in the mail or the electric bill comes," she said. Awkward: A friend or family member owes you money. How do you get it back? The advice: Family members who are borrowing or loaning money need to be as clear as possible, said Oliver Schnusenberg, a financial therapist specializing in neuroscience. "Set clear terms and preferably in writing," said Schnusenberg, who is also a professor of finance with a specialty in behavioral finance at The University of North Florida. "What exactly is the loan? What is it for? What are the terms?" "The more you actually treat it like a formal loan, the less awkward it becomes because now there's actual transparency around it," Schnusenberg said. Otherwise, things like a "found" sticky note in Palm's case "can be interpreted in multiple ways," he said. Being clear about the loan and the repayment means "everyone can feel good about it and everyone knows exactly what it is," he said. "If you can name it, you can tame it." He also advises that the family members lending the money charge interest. Maybe it's less interest than the family borrower might be charged at a financial institution, but Schnusenberg still advises that some fee be tacked on. That's because the lender is losing out on interest the cash could have earned if it was left in a bank account, he said. If the money is not a loan, but a gift that is not expected to be paid back, then the family members need to consider whether that money could be considered a taxable gift, Schnusenberg said. Despite some strings being attached, a loan between family members can still benefit the borrower, especially if the person does not have good credit, since a relative is not going to be running a credit or background check, Schnusenberg said. But Schnusenberg said personally, he would avoid borrowing money from a family member because "you are in each other's business." "You're mixing family with business, which may or may not be a good idea," he said. Then if you can't repay the loan, "that may result in strained that can be whipped out in other conflict situations in the family like 'Oh, I knew it. You owed me money. It's just like you.'" Still, Schnusenberg said there may be times when someone has no other choice than to ask family members for financial help. "I actually know someone who has a fairly strained relationship with their parents, but had no other option and needed a co-signer because their credit rating was so low," he said. "It's created a situation that really no one wants." Timing and reading the room is important when asking a family member to borrow money, said Schnusenberg. "Time it to make it a comfortable gathering where everyone is kind of at ease," he said. Or hint at it without directly asking, to feel out how the family member may receive the idea, Schnusenberg said. "If you say 'I'm having trouble right now paying for this, I might need to take out a loan,'" you can see how the family member responds, he said. "If they say 'Well, good luck with that,' then I'm probably not going to ask," he said. Whether to tell other family members who are not involved in a loan depends on the situation, said Schnusenberg. If the parents are of an advanced age and other family members need to know about the loan when it comes to settling the family estate, tell the other siblings, Schnusenberg said. Parents who give a loan to one adult child may also want their other children to know so there is transparency and no appearance of favoritism, he said. It can get very awkward when someone doesn't pay you back, causing resentment, said Schnusenberg. "Are you going to take him to small claims court? Probably not," he said. "The only thing you have then is kind of the power to say 'I'm never going to lend you money again,' which probably you weren't going to do anyway." The bottom line, Schnusenberg said, when a family member asks to borrow money is "How do I feel about that and can I really afford it?" There's also a potential upside to family members borrowing money from a relative – and successfully paying it back, said Schnusenberg. Not only did the borrower get quick access to funds, with potential lower interest, but "if the loan is repaid as agreed, then it could also cement trust and understanding. It could potentially actually fix relationships that may be on shaky grounds," he said. Do you have an Uncomfortable Conversations about Money topic you'd like to suggest? Or would you be willing to be featured in a story about your Uncomfortable Conversation? Email blinfisher@ with "Uncomfortable Conversations" in the subject line. Here are some upcoming topics. Do you have experience with this and if so, are you willing to be featured in a story? Or do you know someone who would be willing to share their wisdom on how they resolved this issue? How should you split the bills and expenses when you move in with a significant other and your incomes are vastly different? What should you do when your spouse or partner's ex asks for money? Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@ or follow her on X, Bluesky, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is it OK to borrow money from parents or family? Here's what to expect Sign in to access your portfolio
USA Today
26-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Uncomfortable Conversations: Borrowing money from family can be awkward. Here's advice.
Borrowing money from family is awkward enough. But borrowing money from your parents when you are in your 60s is humiliating, Sherrie Palm told me. Palm of Mukwonago, Wisconsin founded the nonprofit Association for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Support in 2010. Palm said she funded the nonprofit and its efforts out of her own money – and didn't take a salary. I am "poor as a church mouse," she said. Welcome back to Uncomfortable Conversations About Money, a recurring series where we will tackle challenging topics or situations around money that make you uneasy. We'll outline the problem and try to get you some usable solutions. Is it a good idea to borrow money from family? The problem: In 2014, Palm needed $3,000 to go to Nepal, which was the only country in the world to have a government campaign about pelvic organ prolapse. Find the loan that's right for you: Best personal loans She got up the nerve to ask her parents, the late Phil and Joan Kastner, for the money. Her dad enthusiastically said yes, Palm said. Her mom, who had grown up with financial difficulties and was tighter with money, frowned. But the next day, Palm's mom took her to the bank to get the money. Palm, now 71, and her parents never outlined when or how she would pay them back. At the time of the loan, Palm's mom had the early stages of what the family later found out to be Alzheimer's. Her mom wrote a sticky note that said "Sher borrowed $3,000," put the date on it and stuck it to the side of her computer. Family loan causes drama No one thought anything of the loan until five years later when a family member found the note among layers of sticky notes on the desk while cleaning. The relative alerted the grandkids. That turned into "soap opera" drama as Palm describes it, among that generation, who'd been hoping to inherit the family farm, but were not in their grandparents' will. Palm's dad was furious when he heard that the younger generation was creating a problem about the unpaid loan. Palm's two brothers, who understood she struggled financially, were not bothered by it. Her mom, whose Alzheimer's had progressed, didn't react to the family drama, Palm said. After awhile, things calmed down. Palm's dad died unexpectedly in 2020. "It still makes me sick that I was not able to pay the loan back prior to dad dying, but dad was very proud of my work," Palm said. Palm's mom died in 2022, which then led to Palm and her siblings spending the next 2½ years sorting through belongings and preparing the the farm for sale (The grandchildren who had wanted the farm, in Mauston, Wisconsin, didn't have the means to buy the it). The farm sold for $300,000 and Palm took the $3,000 she owed out of her portion of the inheritance. Borrower would have acted differently, in hindsight Palm said had she known the drama that would have ensued from borrowing the money, she would not have asked. She would have taken that as a sign that she shouldn't go on that trip to Nepal. In retrospect, Palm wishes she and her parents had come up with a clear payment plan or expectations of when she should pay the money back. Palm said she thinks if she had on paper an agreement such as "I'll pay back $50 a month," that she would have probably gone out to get an extra job "to make that magic happen." Having an agreement and something on paper would have made Palm feel responsibility for the loan, "kind of like when you get that charge card bill in the mail or the electric bill comes," she said. Awkward:A friend or family member owes you money. How do you get it back? Treat a family loan like it is a formal agreement The advice: Family members who are borrowing or loaning money need to be as clear as possible, said Oliver Schnusenberg, a financial therapist specializing in neuroscience. "Set clear terms and preferably in writing," said Schnusenberg, who is also a professor of finance with a specialty in behavioral finance at The University of North Florida. "What exactly is the loan? What is it for? What are the terms?" "The more you actually treat it like a formal loan, the less awkward it becomes because now there's actual transparency around it," Schnusenberg said. Otherwise, things like a "found" sticky note in Palm's case "can be interpreted in multiple ways," he said. Being clear about the loan and the repayment means "everyone can feel good about it and everyone knows exactly what it is," he said. "If you can name it, you can tame it." He also advises that the family members lending the money charge interest. Maybe it's less interest than the family borrower might be charged at a financial institution, but Schnusenberg still advises that some fee be tacked on. That's because the lender is losing out on interest the cash could have earned if it was left in a bank account, he said. If the money is not a loan, but a gift that is not expected to be paid back, then the family members need to consider whether that money could be considered a taxable gift, Schnusenberg said. Despite some strings being attached, a loan between family members can still benefit the borrower, especially if the person does not have good credit, since a relative is not going to be running a credit or background check, Schnusenberg said. Borrowing money from family can affect the relationship But Schnusenberg said personally, he would avoid borrowing money from a family member because "you are in each other's business." "You're mixing family with business, which may or may not be a good idea," he said. Then if you can't repay the loan, "that may result in strained that can be whipped out in other conflict situations in the family like 'Oh, I knew it. You owed me money. It's just like you.'" Still, Schnusenberg said there may be times when someone has no other choice than to ask family members for financial help. "I actually know someone who has a fairly strained relationship with their parents, but had no other option and needed a co-signer because their credit rating was so low," he said. "It's created a situation that really no one wants." How do you ask for a loan from a family member? Timing and reading the room is important when asking a family member to borrow money, said Schnusenberg. "Time it to make it a comfortable gathering where everyone is kind of at ease," he said. Or hint at it without directly asking, to feel out how the family member may receive the idea, Schnusenberg said. "If you say 'I'm having trouble right now paying for this, I might need to take out a loan,'" you can see how the family member responds, he said. "If they say 'Well, good luck with that,' then I'm probably not going to ask," he said. Should family members tell other family members about a loan? Whether to tell other family members who are not involved in a loan depends on the situation, said Schnusenberg. If the parents are of an advanced age and other family members need to know about the loan when it comes to settling the family estate, tell the other siblings, Schnusenberg said. Parents who give a loan to one adult child may also want their other children to know so there is transparency and no appearance of favoritism, he said. What should you do if the family member doesn't pay you back? It can get very awkward when someone doesn't pay you back, causing resentment, said Schnusenberg. "Are you going to take him to small claims court? Probably not," he said. "The only thing you have then is kind of the power to say 'I'm never going to lend you money again,' which probably you weren't going to do anyway." The bottom line, Schnusenberg said, when a family member asks to borrow money is "How do I feel about that and can I really afford it?" There's also a potential upside to family members borrowing money from a relative – and successfully paying it back, said Schnusenberg. Not only did the borrower get quick access to funds, with potential lower interest, but "if the loan is repaid as agreed, then it could also cement trust and understanding. It could potentially actually fix relationships that may be on shaky grounds," he said. We want to hear from you Do you have an Uncomfortable Conversations about Money topic you'd like to suggest? Or would you be willing to be featured in a story about your Uncomfortable Conversation? Email blinfisher@ with "Uncomfortable Conversations" in the subject line. Here are some upcoming topics. Do you have experience with this and if so, are you willing to be featured in a story? Or do you know someone who would be willing to share their wisdom on how they resolved this issue? How should you split the bills and expenses when you move in with a significant other and your incomes are vastly different? What should you do when your spouse or partner's ex asks for money? Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at blinfisher@ or follow her on X, Bluesky, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which will include consumer news on Fridays, here.
