New budget for new year
By Mark Bailey on Jan. 03, 2008
Dear Emily: I fear that the New Year isn’t going to be such a happy one. I charged up way too much debt on my credit cards this past month, and I don’t know how I am going to pay them off. The only solution is to ask my parents for money, but I am 24 years old, and I don’t want to have to run to mommy and daddy for help.
— Taking Charge
Dear Taking Charge: First try to solve the problem yourself. Make a budget for the New Year, leaving more money to put toward debt than unnecessary splurges, like trips to the movies or expensive coffee houses. Always make sure to pay off the credit card with the highest interest rate first. Look for a part-time job or to increase hours at your current job, just for the time being. And as for your parents, don’t be afraid to admit you made a mistake and ask for help. If they have help to offer, you’d be better off accepting it than letting yourself slip down a slippery slope of unpaid bills.
Dear Emily: How do I get my ex-girlfriend to take me back? She says I never made time for her when we were dating, but I was always working two jobs and had no time. I just can’t lose her from my life.
— Second Chances
Dear Second Chances: You need to convince your ex that your life has changed. If you are still juggling two jobs, then there is no reason for her to think this relationship could work a second time around. But if you are able to cut back on your hours and prove to her you aren’t doomed to make the same mistakes, there may be a chance. Flowers and jewelry wouldn’t hurt either.
Dear Emily: Can you settle a dispute between me and my husband? When is an acceptable time to take down your Christmas lights? Our neighbors still have them up and are notorious for leaving them up for the entire month of January.
— Decoration Dilemma
Dear Decoration Dilemma: There is a time when Christmas displays become more of a display of one’s laziness than holiday cheer. Keeping decorations up through the New Year is certainly acceptable. Also remember that some people celebrate “Little Christmas” on the sixth day of January. This represents the twelfth day of Christmas when the three Wise Men presented their gifts to Jesus. So leaving decorations up until mid-January also seems acceptable. After that, the line is a little fuzzy. An informal poll on the Internet shows that while some are adamant about taking lights down early, many people are content to leave them up indefinitely.
—Have a question on love, life, or etiquette? Don’t be shy — Ask Emily at or write in care of The Burg, P.O. Box 10129, Lynchburg, VA 24506. Then go to http://www.the-burg.com, where you can leave a comment.
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