DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and live with my single mom, and I'm an only child. We have a great relationship and do a lot of things together, especially shopping.

My mom is like a professional shopper. She knows where to get all the deals, what brands are good at certain discount stores and so forth. We always have great clothes to wear, and we look really good with our wardrobes, but we don't pay very much for them at all! Her skills in this department are truly amazing.

But there's one thing that doesn't add up to me, and that is that my mom will stop every Saturday and buy two lottery tickets. The first time I saw her do this, I asked her why she bought two tickets instead of one, and she said that she got two tickets because there are two of us, and we'll both benefit if we ever win anything.

It's been many years, and she's never really won anything with the lottery tickets. My question is, when my mom is so good and frugal at saving money to shop for clothes, food and everything else we need, why does she spend money every Saturday on two lottery tickets? That money always ends up being gone with nothing to show for it. — My Mom Has Mixed Money Messages, via email

MY MOM HAS MIXED MONEY MESSAGES: My take is that your mother is very frugal 98% of the time and does a great job with your family budget in so many interesting and successful ways.

And because she has done such a good job of stretching your family budget so well, she likely feels she has earned the small indulgence of buying two lottery tickets every Saturday. I wholeheartedly agree with this and concur that she absolutely deserves the small expense since it is likely only costing her about four dollars a week.

I further believe that your mother, somewhere in the back of her mind, wants to hold onto the hope that she might someday be in possession of a winning lottery ticket, and even if it isn't for massive amounts of money, it might be for enough significant money to make a positive financial impact in both of your lives.

I'M A GOOD GUY WITHOUT ANY DATING SUCCESS SO FAR

DR. WALLACE: Summer is here, and I'm going to be a junior in high school this coming fall. I'm frustrated because I haven't had much luck in the dating world the past two years. I'm a very reliable and trustworthy guy, and I feel I have a lot to offer, but my shoulders droop whenever I sit and think about my lack of dates these past two years.

My best guess is that I'm pretty average in every way, and I tend to just blend into the background. A friend of mine actually set me up on one blind date about four months ago, but that turned out to be a fiasco, and it was not my fault or hers. My friend either didn't do his homework or — more likely — intentionally set me up with someone who was the opposite of me as a prank.

I want to start dating this summer while I have more free time, so maybe I'll already have a new girlfriend before school starts in the fall. Any ideas on how an average guy can accomplish this? — Want to Get Busy Dating Right Away, via email

WANT TO GET BUSY DATING RIGHT AWAY: One of the things I've learned over the years regarding teen dating is the magic of proactivity. Do what you can within reason to put yourself into the position of meeting new people and networking to meet others who can refer you to people you may like to meet.

It's too bad that the blind date your so-called friend set up for you may have been a possible prank, but don't be discouraged by that particular instance. Network with more reliable people, even adults who know your character, and I feel opportunities for you will soon follow.

When you do meet new people, lean on your strengths and stand up for yourself. Definitely be sure to state that you're reliable, grounded and trustworthy. And since you absolutely possess these traits, I'm positive that you can mention them to others in a confident yet matter-of-fact way.

Also look for some fun activities that are maybe not exactly the mainstream things most teens your age routinely do. You may be able to find some unique and interesting dating ideas, and if you have a couple of these in the back of your mind, it will give you even more confidence to meet new potential dates. If a conversation goes well, you could suggest one of these interesting date ideas, even in a first conversation, as it may help you to close a dating opportunity and turn it into a firm date on a specific day.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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