Q. My husband and I have seven kids. What parts of your program work best for large families?

Teen money management and aging parents

Q. I know when it comes to investing you like mutual funds and paid-for real estate.  What do you think about using condominiums as investment properties instead of single-family homes?

You’re downright stumped. After months on the market, you’re no closer to a home deal than the day you planted a For Sale sign in the yard. Buyers come. Buyers go. And still no bite. It’s easy to chalk it up to the weather. But we’re here to let you in on a little secret: That may not be the case.

Money is a source of conflict in nearly a third of all relationships, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association.
When it comes to budgeting, two can quickly turn into a crowd. That’s because some of us like to save our nickels, while others would prefer to spend every last dime. And it’s hard to get the other person to change their mind. (Okay, so you might be a little stubborn too.)

Q. Our son just turned 8 years old. Is it time to start giving him an allowance?

A. There’s never a time for an allowance, no matter the child’s age. In my mind, that kind of thinking is the best way to plant the seeds of entitlement. You want your son growing up with the idea that he’s owed money simply because he’s alive.

Q. How do you have a wedding without debt?

A. Wow, where do I start on this one? I guess the best way is to tell the truth.

Q. Our son is a senior in college. We all signed a contract before he left for school a few years ago stating that we would pay for school and provide him a car to drive as long as he maintained good grades and behaved in a respectful and mature manner. Over the last couple of years, his grades have dropped and he’s been acting more and more disrespectful. We learned recently that he even told a family friend that he hated us. My husband went to confront him about his behavior and this statement, and our son admitted he said it and was unrepentant. My husband immediately took the car and cut off his cell phone, like we had agreed. But now, I just feel sick with worry. Did we do the right thing?

^Q. With all the economic problems in the country today, what can college students do to avoid money problems in the future?

Question: I noticed that your Baby Steps list puts saving for retirement before saving for your kid’s college fund. Sending your kids to college would come first on the timeline, so why do you suggest this?