Comments on: Reader Mailbag: Children’s Art

By: jim

jim — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:35:28 +0000

Q5 Sheila : Financially speaking you’ll come out ahead moving to the better schools. $9k a year for tuition is a large cost and it would be cheaper to move. The new house costs you a bit more but only a few thousand a year overall compared to upgrading your current home. You’d probably save around $5k a year by moving versus paying tuition.

By: jim

jim — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 22:51:42 +0000

Geoff, Don’t expect a sellers agent to cough up half the commission.

By: jim

jim — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 22:40:06 +0000

Carla, are you actually bored or are you annoyed that you think he neglects you? Big difference. Your boredom isn’t his fault, but if he plays 8 hours a day and ignores you thats another issue.

By: Riki

Riki — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:14:06 +0000

Well that question was more rhetorical than anything. It’s just interesting how she appeared and disappeared without a word. Coupon.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:46:36 +0000

@Riki: You do? I don’t.

By: Riki

Riki — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 18:35:18 +0000

I wonder what ever happened to Nicole and her infographics? Coupon.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:21:40 +0000

Maybe, when he gives you the next gift, say “That’s very kind of you to think of us, but I can’t accept this because XYZ”

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:20:02 +0000

But rather than just avoiding him, could you communicate to him why he’s giving you a weird feeling?

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:14:55 +0000

Q6: It’s good to try to see things through other people’s eyes, but this man’s loneliness is not your responsibility. If he’s giving you a weird feeling, don’t ignore it just because he’s lonely.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:42:17 +0000

Q8: Just buy a big box of Bicycle cards from Costco. It’s fairly inexpensive, and should last you several years.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:32:13 +0000

…or better yet, “It broke, so we threw it out.”

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:31:45 +0000

…If they ask why you no longer have some item, you can just say “We didn’t have room for it, so we donated it”…

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Q7: When you’re given a gift, it’s yours, and you can do whatever you want with it…

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:22:25 +0000

…e.g., “What do you say we watch a movie together,” not “You’re playing the game too much and I’m bored.”

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:14:28 +0000

Q2: Focus on the positive of spending time together as a couple, rather than the negative of having him give up the game for an evening…

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:05:27 +0000

Q1: Maybe get him a copy of Your Money Or Your Life? Sounds like he could benefit from the “you’ve earned all this money, now what do you have to show for it?” exercise.