A Good Friend Will Show Understanding And Flexibility

September 18, 2022

A response to a twenty year-old’s letter to Newsweek seeking advice on dealing with the higher-than-anticipated costs of having agreed to be a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding.

This is a stressful situation: you want to show support for your friend, but you also need to live within your budget. So, what now? As I see it, you don’t have to choose between one or the other. I think you can do both. First, your financial discipline may be a current necessity, but it’s also a hallmark of long-term financial success. So continue to align the use of your income with your longer-term priorities, i.e. your schooling and your car – not the gown, hair, and makeup for the one day of someone else’s wedding. Second, I suggest you speak with your friend about your stress – in person if possible. Here’s a possible outline for that conversation:

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Click the link below to read Dr. Lobl’s response in full.