What is the largest amount of money you sacrificed to help someone?

What if the process is ongoing without a chance of any other remedy?

I gave a total stranger my nice, $75 tow chain to help him get his truck out of the snow. I was driving a small car without 4WD and could not help him. Rather than wait for someone else with a bigger vehicle I just gave him the chain.

I gave $100 to the receptionist at my hairdresser so she could pay the fee to adopt a dog.

I loaned a good friend $6k so she could put a down payment on a car. It was a short term loan and I expected her to pay it back, but of course, knew there was a chance she would not pay it as I would have few ways with a lot of effort to pursue it if she chose not to pay it back. She did pay it back as promised. I was concerned because I’d not only be out six thousand dollars but I’d also lose a good friend.

$500, I think. It might have been more.
My brother in law needed money for something. It’s been 30 years, and I don’t remember the details. I never saw the money again, but what can I say? It’s my wife’s brother.

To a stranger $20
To a relative $600

Gosh….$800. A gift to some friends of mine who both lost their jobs at the same time. They didn’t ask, I just sent it. :)
Several years later, when I hit some hard times, I asked to borrow $100. They refused because true story they were saving to send the husband to Mexico to help the poor people there. They are Christians, you see.

I’d say, over the course of time I’ve probably given my daughter about $2000.

$2,000 to a relative. I’ve given other amounts to relatives never expecting it back, but that’s the highest at one time.

$100 to a friend.

Change to strangers. Usually vending machine money, that sort of thing. Back in the day a quarter for a phone call.

Related, but not really part of the Q we once loaned $15k to a relative (a couple) and we expected it back, but I did it knowing we might not get it back. It would not have been ok if he didn’t pay it back, but it would not have broken the relationship. It would have been the last time we would ever help them financially though. They could be on the street and I would not have handed them a penny if they didn’t pay us back. They did pay us back.

I gave my brother $10,000 to bail him out of debt. He had no way to ever pay it back and I never expected him to do so. He died suddenly a week later. I’m glad I was able to help him even though he never really got to benefit from it.

1800$, my brother, never expected and never got it back, my best friends brother, 900$, I had to threaten some pretty bad stuff to get it back, now I feel bad because he died, my children , tens of thousands, my sister probably 1000$ over the last 5 years, I don’t give her money any more.

Some 1000$, for my BFF to cover her school fee. But then again I have never asked for any money back. When I give money I’m fully aware that I won’t get it back.

I thought this Q was about helping a total stranger. “For instance you helped a stranger with a hotel room because they were mugged of their cash and cards, ...”
Then, of course, there is the 1 hour pay per month that goes into the United Way coffers.

If the Q was for people I know, the amount is much higher. Much, much higher.

^ I thought this Q was about helping a total stranger. “For instance you helped a stranger with a hotel room because they were mugged of their cash and cards, ...”
This is Fluther, the details were not simple enough to get the gist completely, when one gives to family and close friends, the motivation is different even though the likelihood of getting it back is never there; with people who are virtually strangers or at best named acquaintances, the fist is often tighter even when you have a strong idea the money will come back to you. Your take on he spirit of the question was more on point than the masses.

The question is fine @Hypocrisy_Central, and so were the details.

I once gave $20 to a girl I’d never seen before. I stuck it in her G-string. Does that count?

We sent tens of thousands of dollars to Florida State. All we have to show for it is a son who never calls, and Jameis Winston…

^^^^ :(. Sad