4 People You Can Cut Out of Your Financial Life

Photo: ThinkstockBy Amy Shearn

The New Economy Mooch

So you have this friend you want to help out because she was one of the first casualties in the Great Recession. You picked up the tab for dinner one weekend. And the next. And the next. And then, hooray!--you're taking her out for drinks to celebrate her new job. And...picking up the bill. And the one after that. If you're starting to feel taken advantage of, you need to stop playing the fairy godmother game. Think of it this way: The next time you get together, you've got something to celebrate--that she's now capable of paying her own way. So when the bill comes and she starts studying her phone, try this one: "How great that we can go back to normal and split the check?!"

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The Semi-Okay Accountant

There comes a time in every adult's life when she realizes the family friend who's been doing her taxes since she started working, while a lovely person, has never been able to get her any money back (or seems to get a suspiciously high refund). Or when she realizes her accountant is someone--come to think of it-she's never actually met. These are signs that it's time to start looking for someone new, someone with whom you can sit down and hash it all out. Finding a trustworthy, affordable CPA might not be the sexiest task in the world, but once you say goodbye to the wrong accountant and sign on with the right one, a stress you never knew you were carrying will float away. Especially--trust me here--if you are a consultant or a freelancer.

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The "Expensive but Worth It"-Purchase Pusher

She's the most fun person to go shopping with. In fact, she's the only person to go shopping with: The purchase pusher. "Get it!" she urges when you're waffling over that obviously unnecessary dress/bag/pair of shoes/jadeite-green moped. "You deserve it!" Or, even worse, she insists (in words that turn your new accountant's spine to ice): "Sure it's expensive, but it's worth it!" She's right. The Italian-marble countertop is expensive because it's gorgeous. So is that first-edition copy of Franny and Zooey. So is a Ferrari. But just because something is beautiful doesn't mean you need to have it. And just because you deserve something doesn't mean (sorry) you can afford it.

The Aspiring Etsy Impresario

There are two kinds of people in most of our lives: those who have always secretly wanted to become yoga teachers, and those who have always secretly wanted to make and sell their own jewelry/beauty products/cute crafts. Let's make this clear: You're happy for your friend/family member, of course you are. You wish her all the best. But it may just be that glittery shoulder-brushing feather earrings at $40 a pop are not your deal, and because you're not her mother, you don't have to feel obligated to buy them and then wear them whenever you see her. (Unless you are her mother. In that case, you probably actually do.) That's not to say you don't want to support her in some way. Here's a line to memorize for use in such situations: "I am so glad you are making these! I'm going to spread the word to everyone I know." Then you can post a link to her site on your Facebook page and...you're done.