LIFE

Dear Carol,
My dad lost his job a few months ago and my mom doesn't make much money. We live in a fairly wealthy community but my parents can't afford to buy me anything anymore. My friends are always begging me to go to the movies or go out to eat on a Friday night and I have to tell them I can't afford to. They offer to pay for me, and sometimes I let them, but I feel horrible taking money from my friends, so I’ve stopped going out. I’ve tried to be considerate of my parents but sometimes I feel like I am going to explode.
—Out of Money

Dear Out of Money,
You're not the only girl who feels this way, especially nowadays. Can you invite your friends to your home? Or say, “Let’s carve pumpkins,” or “Let’s bake zucchini bread,” or “Let’s watch a movie”? Dining out is expensive, so pretend you’re a tourist in your hometown and come up with fun plans that don’t require megabucks. Think too about how you can make money. Can you babysit, tutor a child or teach computer skills to the elderly? Try to figure out how to be resourceful instead of a recluse.

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by Carol Weston | 12/30/2018