Dear Eric: My father is in his late 80s and not in great health. I cannot stop worrying that when both my father and my partner leave this Earth, I will be all alone.
Asking Eric: I don’t want to be alone
Category: Advice
Terry Savage: Giving the gift of a college savings plan
Here’s a reminder of how easy it is to set up a 529 college savings plan for a child or grandchild, and why you should encourage gifts to the plan for birthdays and special events.
Ex-etiquette: Grandmother doesn’t want to welcome stepkids to Christmas
Q: We are expecting a lot of company for the upcoming holiday, and I have asked my son to bring my grandchild but leave his wife’s children at home. There’s just not enough room. Now he’s refusing to come, and I’m broken-hearted.
Terry Savage: Gifts to spark financial interest in the young
Every year I devote a column to meaningful gifts for children of all ages — gifts that might grow in value or spark an interest in financial matters, or just be a relief from the online games that take up so much of their time.
Ask Anna: Boyfriend puts in little effort to gift giving
Dear Anna, I’ve tried to tell myself it’s not about the gifts, and he’s a good partner in other ways. He’s kind, supportive and we have a lot of fun together. But I can’t shake the feeling that the lack of effort he puts into presents means something about how he feels about me.
Ex-etiquette: Should I get my ex a Christmas gift?
Q. I don’t hate my ex, and I’d like to get him a little something for Christmas. What’s good ex-etiquette?
Asking Eric: Husband’s splurges at grocery store are bothering me
Dear Eric: I don’t believe I should be responsible for half the cost, which he thinks is unfair and disloyal to our agreement.
Asking Eric: New nail tech hurt me
Dear Eric: I’ve been going to the same neighborhood nail salon for nearly 10 years. They are usually great, but about two years ago, I continuously began to be relegated to a nail technician, “Sue,” who is very inconsistent, doing just OK sometimes and then on occasion was truly awful.
Dear Eric: Husband going out all hours of the night
Dear Eric: My gut has been telling me something is not right, so I went through his phone.
Asking Eric: Friend takes too many leftovers after holiday meals
Dear Eric: My hosting friends are too nice to say anything to her.