Gc\Xj\ aljk ^\k jkl]]\[

MY neighbour is a do-gooder.

Sometimes I admire her energy in helping other people.

But at the moment she’s getting on my nerves. The problem is she never stops asking me for stuff.

First it was toiletries, chocolates and bottles for raffles. Now it’s cold, hard cash.

She’s just heard that my aunt died in November leaving me a healthy inheritance and she’s on at me to buy a table at a charity ball where I’ll be expected to splash out on champagne and bid at an auction.

She’s pushy and won’t take no for an answer. I just feel she embarrasses me and takes advantage.

How do I get her off my back?

JANE SAYS: No-one knows what goes on behind closed doors, so I suggest you simply level with your neighbour by explaining that you are already fully committed to your own causes.

Tell her that you greatly admire what she does, but you’re not able to help her this time.

That doesn’t make you uncharitable or mean, but we all have our own private business and our limits.

Be polite, but firm, wish her good luck and then walk away.

The fact that she’s caught a whiff of your inheritance is neither here nor there – you don’t have to justify your spending to anyone.

You’re entitled to walk out of your own front door without being hounded.