The thought that came to my mind is this:
"Do not be a man who strikes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;
if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you."
Proverbs 22:26
Personally, in general, I don't make loans to anyone. I have never lent money to anyone and I don't plan to do so now. A helper is in a unique position in the family, I think. A helper is an employee but at the same time they are similar to family.
If my helper had a true emergency, if I had the means, I would make a one-off gift to her to help if I felt it as appropriate (and not every situation is appropriate for this). But, apart from a gift, I would never loan money.
I believe that loaning money to people who are "family" is just asking for trouble. Either I give the money or I don't give anything at all. Because loans between family members generally generate bad feelings and resentment--especially if they're big loans and moreso if they're not paid back in a timely manner.
I might give an advancement on her wages but the limit on that would likely be up to one month's salary.
Otherwise, the temptation is for that to become a bottomless pit and even if there was a true emergency that initially required the funds, the helper might misinterpret this to mean, "Wow, they're made of cash and I can just keep asking and receiving."
I don't want to put her in that position where she's tempted to use or manipulate us (with us allowing her to do so!) because we all know how human nature is.
Those are my boundaries.
