At some point in your life, most people are going to go through a time where their finances are stretched a little too thin for their liking. Now, this can mean a lot of different things to every different person. While you might be comfortable having $500 in your bank account, others might not be comfortable unless they have at least $2,500 or $25,000 in their bank account. So if you see someone you love going through a time of limited finances and you want to do something to help, here are three tips for helping out a loved one during a tough financial time.

Consider Being There For Accountability

Not all help during tough financial times has to come in the form of money. Especially if your loved one is having a hard time because of some bad financial habits or decisions he or she has been making, you can help by sharing your knowledge of basic financial principles. Additionally, Laura Shin, a contributor to Forbes.com, shares that you could also offer to be their financial accountability partner until they’re able to keep themselves accountable. This works by being there to offer support, advice, and motivation through period check-ins to see how they’re doing with sticking to their budget or savings goals.

Give Things Other Than Money

If your loved one is needing more than just emotional support but is either resistant to you giving them any type of money or you don’t have the funds to be handing out cash, there are still things you can do to be of assistance and make their life a little easier. According to Zina Kumok, a contributor to MoneyUnder30.com, this could include things like bringing over food on a regular basis, helping with a job search to get a higher paying position, providing another service that they need but can’t afford on their own, or simply being there to share in the struggle with them.

Make Clean Any Loan Terms

In some situations your loved one might need actual money to help them get through a particularly tough time, like if they’re needing to make bail or pay for some type of emergency. In this type of circumstance, you might want to give your loved one a personal loan. However, if you choose to do this, Katie Adams, a contributor to Investopedia.com, recommends that you be certain to make the terms of your loan very clear. For example, be explicit when documenting things like the amount of the loan, the terms of repayment, any interest, and specific dates that everything should be taking place on.

If you have a loved one who’s struggle with their finances, consider using the tips mentioned above to know ways in which you can offer some help.