When my sister-in-law Tanya’s house was damaged by a spring storm, I agreed to fix it, thinking I was just helping family. I own a small contracting business and, even though money was tight, I paid for everything upfront — nearly $18,800 — trusting her promise to repay me once her insurance check cleared.

For three weeks, my crew and I worked hard: a new roof, garage door, siding, and custom gutters. But months passed with no payment. Then one day, Tanya pulled into my driveway in a brand-new SUV. When I asked about my money, she laughed and claimed it was “family help” and that my work would be “great exposure” for my business.

Furious, I came up with a plan. Tanya was throwing a big housewarming party, so I printed brochures showing before-and-after photos of the repairs — along with the unpaid balance in bold: $18,800. I dropped them off at her party for all her friends to see. By the end of the night, whispers spread, and Tanya’s reputation took a major hit.

A week later, karma struck. Her new SUV was stolen, and since she’d skipped comprehensive insurance, she got nothing back. Meanwhile, neighbors who saw my work called me for quotes, and my business grew. Best of all, I finally bought my son the sneakers he’d been waiting for. Tanya learned her lesson, and I learned to never mix business and family without a contract.