DEAR ABBY: My husband makes his living doing general construction. We have no employees. We get along fantastic, except for one point of contention.
Over the years we have made investments in tools for his trade. Another family member constantly asks to borrow them for personal projects. My husband willingly lends them out. If he needs that tool for a job, he will go without, reschedule his work or make a special trip to retrieve it.
I say the only way he should lend out his tools is if there is a slim to zero chance at all of his needing it himself, and if he does, then it must be returned immediately.
Also, we are a paycheck-to-paycheck family and this family member is wealthy. These tools are our way of making a living, and we need to be ready for any job at a moment's notice. Please advise. -- TOOLS OF THE TRADE
DEAR T.O.T.T.: Your husband appears to be a very nice person, but providing for his family should come first. His tools are his livelihood, just as those belonging to a barber, beautician, seamstress or doctor would be. Because his relative has the money, he (or she) should inquire about renting the necessary tool from a home improvement store, or search for "tool rentals" in the Yellow Pages or online.