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Dear Amy: I’m a company owner with a tiny retail shop positioned in an affluent neighborhood. We rent our space, and our employees contains household members who function for totally free so that we can hold the doors open. The shop is a labor of appreciate, and it is a gathering location for neighborhood members. That mentioned, company is quite slow, and we are struggling.

The covid years saw our comprehensive shutdown (according to state mandates) and company at a comprehensive standstill. The vacationers who utilised to be our most important guests/purchasers have not returned due to the fact covid.

We are continually getting approached by neighborhood corporations and nonprofits seeking for donations and sponsorships. These contain schools asking for donations to raffles, museums asking for 3-figure donations to their fundraisers, nonprofits raising income for superior causes, neighborhood theaters and newspapers asking us to acquire advertisements (“for only $275 a week”), and far more.

We have usually supported them when we could, which includes providing present certificates to our shop, but I’m overwhelmed now. Some days I’m deciding upon among acquiring meals or gas for my vehicle so I can drive to my other job.

Our company account is empty, and it is all I can do not to cry when asked for donations. They ask in telephone calls and then adhere to up in individual and through emails, copying other individuals on these emails, which tends to make it appear like we’re an uncharitable company.

Some of the askers even make a comment that we’re in “this town” so thus need to have the income and indicates to donate. How do I respond to these people today? I was usually taught to “never complain, by no means clarify,” and I do not know how to inform them that I’d appreciate to donate but we basically can not.

Our hope is to hold our shop going for a couple of far more years as our company recovers from the pandemic, but I’m also afraid we’re going to shed respect from neighborhood members who assume we are closefisted and uncharitable. Your tips?

Worried: My tips is to craft a uncomplicated, sincere and polite written response: “As our company continues to recover just after our lengthy closure in the course of the pandemic, we discover ourselves unable to donate to your quite worthy result in. We hope to see you in the shop quite quickly.”

I hope that your fears regarding your reputation are an exaggerated response to your affluent surroundings. You should really assume that other neighborhood household-run corporations are stretched, as well. (Connecting with other individuals in a neighborhood tiny-company networking association may well support you to see that you are not alone.)

Bear in mind that the people today creating these requests most likely do not understand that theirs is the fifth “ask” you have received this week. A fast, respectful and definitive “Sorry — we’re stretched tight, so not this year” should really send them on their way.

Hang in there. You are not alone.

Dear Amy: I reside with my daughter and son-in-law in my personal private quarters, which I paid for them to develop. My region covers about 1-third of the residence.

I attempt to give them their space and reside independently in my unit, which is attached by a hallway to their two-story residence. We are a loving household, and I have a best son-in-law.

I stated that I’d spend 1-third of the utilities, which contains heat, air conditioning and garbage pickup. I’m retired and living on Social Safety. They are complete-time, effective company people today.

My daughter thinks I should really spend for half the utilities. Granted, I do not endure, and use the heat and air for my comfort. Old people today do not like to shiver all winter or sweat all summer time. Is it equitable to split the expenses 50/50, or should really we spend according to our earning energy?

Cool Consumer: No, it does not appear equitable to split the expenses of these utilities 50/50. Nor does it appear equitable to spend for utilities primarily based on your revenue.

The clear resolution (to me) is for you to spend 1-third of the utilities, due to the fact you occupy 1-third of the space and are 1-third of the occupants. You may well appear into installing a door among your unit and their residence (for power-conservation purposes), and possibly installing a separate meter for your unit.

Dear Amy: “Organizer with a Challenge” relayed intense aggravation more than how their “politically primarily based affinity group” had devolved into dysfunction. They have to have to use Robert’s Guidelines of Order: Make a motion, go over, 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 Agency.