by Ann E. Smith

Created on: March 22, 2009   Last Updated: March 27, 2009

Times are tough, with the economy in one of the worst recessions in decades. While everyone is facing stress and fear, some people are in worse shape than others.

Do you have a neighbor or friend who is struggling during these hard times? If so, how can you offer that person some help?

Below are some suggestions as to how you can assist a friend or neighbor without offending or embarrassing them.

* Serve as a trusted confidante.

Sometimes we all just need someone to listen, especially when facing tremendous stress and problems. If you are someone who can be trusted with highly personal information, then you have a gift.

So few people can keep secrets, but you can. As a result, you should let your neighbor know that you are there for them if they need a kind ear. Make yourself available without being intrusive.

* Offer to babysit for free.

If your neighbors are having a hard time, they may need to plan meetings with financial advisors or others. During these times, they may need a babysitter. As it is expensive to hire one, you can be of great assistance by offering some babysitting services for free. Of course, you will want to set some reasonable boundaries but this is a great gesture.

* Prepare casseroles for the family.

People always appreciate a home-baked casserole or two, especially when times are tough. You can be a great neighbor by preparing two or three casseroles and dropping them off to your neighbors. As casseroles can be divided and frozen, then you can provide several meals through this thoughtful act.

* Share some of your gifts and talents.

We all have certain talents and gifts. It is our personal responsibility to share them with others. Based on our own unique talents, think of some ways you can apply them to be helpful to your neighbor.

If your neighbor is overwhelmed, would they benefit from your organizational skills? If your neighbor is working on a resume, perhaps you can offer to edit and proof it, if writing skills are your strong point.

* Network if this person needs a job.

It's often who you know, not what you know. If your neighbor is out of work, and you feel they would make a good employee, then perhaps you can do some networking for that person. People always appreciate it when you offer to forward their resume to a few of your contacts. And, there is no obligation on anyone's part. You are simply connecting two parties who may have a mutual business interest.

* Do not stop being their friend.

When you are aware someone is down, it's often tempting to avoid that person. While you certainly want to respect someone's privacy, you should not be too distant when someone is having a hard time. That really is a mistake.

One of the best things you can do to help a neighbor or friend who is hurting financially is to remain a good friend. Do not treat this person like they have the plague. Instead, act as normally as you can. That person will appreciate it, as many others they know may seem to have vanished.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.