Dear Eric: Should I go to Tanzania for two weeks with people I don’t know and one person I only kind of know? I mentioned I wanted to go to Tanzania some day and this lady in the movie theater said, “Oh, I’m going to Tanzania and we need one more person in our group.” Between airfare and safari costs, it will be $8,000. I have the money, but I was planning to invest in a mutual fund.
Should I go? – Impromptu Invitation Dear Invitation: No! Do not go to a second location with random people from movie theaters! Report to your financial adviser’s office, STAT. It sounds like you just want something to spend money on. Dear Eric: I’m a 42-year-old woman who is child-free by choice.
I always remember birthdays, and love giving thoughtfully chosen gifts to the people in my life (my nearest and dearest, especially). But let’s be honest, we aren’t always close with everyone we’re related to, and at a certain point it gets to be a bit much. Everyone, it seems, is having kids, except for me.
My husband and I are desperately trying to save for a house and I’m struggling with the feeling of inequity and imbalance around this never-ending custom of baby gifts. And truthfully, I feel a little bitter about i t. (Most of these people don’t even remember my birthday.
) I realize I’m likely putting too much pressure on myself, but should I be expected to give presents to everyone in my life, even those on the periphery? – Present Not Accounted For Dear Present: Someth.
