DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 years old and a junior college student. I still live at home with my parents because we have a great relationship and it's convenient for all of us.

I'd like to get a credit card to start paying for some of my books and tuition fees, along with other sundry expenses. However, my father does not want me to do this because he's heard of many horror stories of teenagers getting credit cards and then running up mountains of debt.

I don't plan on running up any crazy expenses, but I understand where he's coming from, to a point, even though I don't agree with his position overall.

I also want to start building my credit profile so that I'll have a solid foundation to work with later in life. Is there anything you can say that would help me to convince my father to co-sign on a credit card for me? — I'd Like a Card, via email

I'D LIKE A CARD: I do have an idea that may be a suitable starting point for you. The two of you should set up a bank account and arrange for a debit card to be issued in conjunction with that account. This way, you can "charge" some expenses that you incur via the debit card, which will be backed by the cash in the bank account. At this early stage, there will be no formal credit line established or opened yet, but it will help you to begin the routine of using a card to make payments.

You should then also be responsible for reconciling your charges against the debit card statement, just as you would with a regular credit card account. Consider this practice for the near future in which you may be able to get a credit card with a low credit limit subject to your father's approval. After you proved to him you can handle a debit card responsibly.

MY NEW FRIENDS SEEMED GREAT UNTIL MORE WAS REVEALED

DR. WALLACE: I've met some new friends this summer who have been great to hang out with. We've had a lot of laughs and good times already inside about a month's period of time. I feel like I have a new group of friends.

However, the last two times I hung out with his friends, I noticed that three of the four of them did things, said things or acted in ways that conflicted greatly with my own personal set of morals and ethics.

I don't want to lose these new friends so quickly, but I don't want to lecture them either. I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I can't hang out with them without saying anything and just let their behavior continue right in front of me as though it's entirely acceptable. What should I do now? — Suddenly Very Uncomfortable, via email

SUDDENLY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE: I would never suggest that you overtly, or even passively, compromise your own moral compass, belief system or sense of personal character.

Therefore, you cannot continue as a member of that circle of friends within that specific dynamic. You either need to avoid the group entirely or slowly test to see if one or more from the group may be willing to spend time with you in a manner that is acceptable to your character.

If you aren't comfortable enough with this entire situation, I suggest you move on entirely. But if you feel you might be able to meet with one from the group individually, you could select the one you feel is the closest to your own character. Then meet with this individual and explain exactly what you are uncomfortable about, and ask this individual if he or she feels the same way you do, or if this person feels the group's behavior is acceptable as it is. This will either end things entirely for you or give you an opportunity to see if at least one in the group might just be falling victim to peer pressure. You may be able to help a person or two from that group cease with the unsavory behavior.

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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