Dear Dave,
I’m 19-years old and living at home while I go to school and work part-time. I make about $400 a month. My parents have started your plan, and I feel like I should do something to help out with expenses. I could do this by paying my expenses, or paying them rent each month. What do you think?
-Ruth
Dear Ruth,
I love your attitude! If you’re in college, getting a good education is your first responsibility. You’re not making a lot of money, so you wouldn’t be able to contribute much. I think $100 a month would be very fair, but sit down with your parents and talk this over. You’ll need money to live on, and they’ll need to feel good about this. A plan that does both is a winner.
What you give them at this point really isn’t going to change their lives. It’s a symbol of your character and your respect for your parents. A willingness to contribute and help out is a great thing, Ruth. There are lots of people out there who are twice your age, who still can’t seem to grasp these concepts. Way to go!
-Dave
Dear Dave,
I own a small business that produces niche products. Lately, we’ve been getting calls from prospective customers who want to use our products in different ways. How do you advise handling an “outside the box” request?
-Sean
Dear Sean,
Ask yourself three basic questions: Can the product be produced in the needed quantity for a fair price? Will it be something you’ll want to hang your reputation on? Do you really want to do this?
If you answer “yes,” additional questions arise. Can the product be used the way they want to use it? Must it be modified, and at what cost? Can you supply it on time?
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