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Expensive Amy: I’m a enterprise proprietor with a small retail retailer situated in an prosperous neighborhood. We lease our area, and our workers consists of relations who work totally free in order that we are able to preserve the doorways open. The store is a labor of affection, and it’s a gathering place for neighborhood members. That mentioned, enterprise may be very gradual, and we’re struggling.

The covid years noticed our full shutdown (based on state mandates) and enterprise at an entire standstill. The vacationers who was our predominant company/patrons haven’t returned since covid.

We’re always being approached by native companies and nonprofits on the lookout for donations and sponsorships. These embody colleges asking for donations to raffles, museums asking for three-figure donations to their fundraisers, nonprofits elevating cash for good causes, native theaters and newspapers asking us to buy advertisements (“for less than $275 per week”), and extra.

We have now all the time supported them after we may, together with giving present certificates to our store, however I’m overwhelmed now. Some days I’m selecting between shopping for meals or gasoline for my automotive so I can drive to my different job.

Our enterprise account is empty, and it’s all I can do to not cry when requested for donations. They ask in cellphone calls after which observe up in individual and through emails, copying others on these emails, which makes it seem like we’re an uncharitable enterprise.

A few of the askers even make a remark that we’re in “this city” so subsequently should have the cash and means to donate. How do I reply to those folks? I used to be all the time taught to “by no means complain, by no means clarify,” and I don’t know the way to inform them that I’d like to donate however we merely can not.

Our hope is to maintain our retailer going for a number of extra years as our enterprise recovers from the pandemic, however I’m additionally afraid we’re going to lose respect from neighborhood members who assume we’re closefisted and uncharitable. Your recommendation?

Nervous: My recommendation is to craft a easy, trustworthy and well mannered written response: “As our enterprise continues to recuperate after our prolonged closure throughout the pandemic, we discover ourselves unable to donate to your very worthy trigger. We hope to see you within the store very quickly.”

I hope that your fears regarding your status are an exaggerated response to your prosperous environment. It’s best to assume that different native family-run companies are stretched, too. (Connecting with others in a neighborhood small-business networking affiliation would possibly provide help to to see that you just aren’t alone.)

Keep in mind that the folks making these requests in all probability don’t notice that theirs is the fifth “ask” you’ve acquired this week. A fast, respectful and definitive “Sorry — we’re stretched tight, so not this 12 months” ought to ship them on their approach.

Hold in there. You’re not alone.

Expensive Amy: I reside with my daughter and son-in-law in my very own non-public quarters, which I paid for them to construct. My space covers roughly one-third of the home.

I attempt to give them their area and reside independently in my unit, which is connected by a hallway to their two-story home. We’re a loving household, and I’ve an ideal son-in-law.

I said that I’d pay one-third of the utilities, which incorporates warmth, air con and rubbish pickup. I’m retired and dwelling on Social Safety. They’re full-time, profitable enterprise folks.

My daughter thinks I ought to pay for half the utilities. Granted, I don’t undergo, and use the warmth and air for my consolation. Outdated folks don’t prefer to shiver all winter or sweat all summer season. Is it equitable to separate the prices 50/50, or ought to we pay based on our incomes energy?

Cool Buyer: No, it doesn’t appear equitable to separate the prices of those utilities 50/50. Nor does it appear equitable to pay for utilities based mostly in your earnings.

The plain answer (to me) is so that you can pay one-third of the utilities, because you occupy one-third of the area and are one-third of the occupants. You would possibly look into putting in a door between your unit and their home (for energy-conservation functions), and maybe putting in a separate meter on your unit.

Expensive Amy: “Organizer with a Downside” relayed excessive frustration over how their “politically based mostly affinity group” had devolved into dysfunction. They should use Robert’s Guidelines of Order: Make a movement, focus on, then vote. That’ll cease the minority from ruling the group.

Been There: I vote “aye!”

© 2023 by Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company.