3 things to know before loaning your adult kids money

It's an age-old problem that's been with us for ages. You raise your kids to be independent adults, but...what if something goes wrong?

What if, for instance, they lose their job, suddenly run out of cash and need help? Or what if they got in over their heads financially with credit card debt and need a loan to help pay off their debt?

Do you look the other way and let the chips fall where they may, even if that means they wind up on the streets? Or do you help them out? And what if they need a lot of help? How far should you go to get them out of the bind they're in? And at what dollar amount are you really helping them out, or just enabling them to continue their financially unsound lifestyle?