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Wiggle Room When You Spend!
Q: My wonderful widowed mother is every salesman's dream. When my father was alive, he managed the maintenance and caretaking of their home. He chose when to paint, when to purchase a stove, and in effect, made the final decision as to how they …Read more.
Patience and Experience Wins
Q: Our grandson is off to college in September, and he is eager to spread his wings. He is a hard working student, but as of yet, has not chosen a career path. Fortunately, he has the ability to choose either a scientific or liberal arts direction. …Read more.
Keeping the Records Straight!
Q: My wife has turned into a must-do daily journalist. She spends about 20 minutes before going to bed to record and reflect on what she did that day. I appreciate her commitment for doing so. Often we try to recall a name or memory, which does not …Read more.
Financing Grandchildren
Q: My wife and I were born in the early 1930s, and we look back and remember how happy our childhood was. We did not have much, but we thought mom's fried chicken and lemon pie were super treats. We knew all of our neighbors and looked out for each …Read more.
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Grandchildren Have Out of Control DebtQ: After three years of marriage, our granddaughter and son-in-law find themselves deeply in debt and are now asking us for a loan for next month's apartment rent. Both work and, combined, should be earning enough to pay their expenses. We have not responded. Now along with their plea for financial help and still no response from us, they are also asking for advice on budgeting, of course while waiting for our check. If we agree to do so once, will we be setting ourselves up for being on the hook for their monthly rent?
A: It is a strong possibility, especially if you do not include conditions and timetables along with your check. Unfortunately, once an individual knows they have a back-up provider and you will pony-up when asked, it is not a winning option for either family. Stepping up to the plate and accepting responsibility, as adults, are the keys to developing maturity. Suggest that you meet monthly to advice them about their efforts to take control of their spending and saving. Is it time for them to cut up their credit cards? Are they now willing to make a serious effort to handle their finances? Before they buy or spend do they have a plan, a purpose or just a must have item on their wish list? Is one partner a spendthrift and the other fears revealing it? If you believe they are willing to make a serious effort to budget, you have the choice of committing to a monthly gift or a one-time bailout check.
Q: This may sound like a stupid question, but even though I am in my 30s, I continue to believe I am dumb and uneducated about life in general. I have not married, I am unhappy about my career, have only few friends and do not know how to have fun. What am I doing wrong, and how can I change my ways? A: First, you are on the right track. You have analyzed your shortcomings and prepared yourself to move on. Begin your new life by throwing yourself out of your comfort zone and developing friendships with those whom you would like to have as your role models. Join a walking group; take classes that may develop into a passion such as photography; volunteer at your library; enroll at a gym and other interactive groups. Surfing the Internet can also prove to be successful, as it opens up a whole new world. A successful learning experience is one in which you target goals that you know you have the ability to accomplish. Things that are possibly hindering you could be: putting too much emphasis on your age, choosing the easy way out, or your current habits may be holding you back because you are afraid of making choices or mistakes. We all face deadlines and often make decisions that become disasters. Experience is what others call the key to our learning. Choose to be an achiever, and enjoy your life. Who knows what lies ahead? Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at deardoug@msn.com. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2012 CREATORS.COM
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