Dear Dave, My boyfriend lives in a different state, and I’m planning to move there when we get married. I know I love him, but sometimes he is not what I consider to be responsible with money. There have been times in the past when he has taken out small loans or paid bills late in order to buy something he wanted. How can I talk to him about this? Heather

Dear Dave, Do you have guidelines for giving when it comes to helping family members? My wife and I are both 52, we’re debt-free, and we have savings along with about $750,000 in retirement. We agree with you that it’s a bad idea to loan money to relatives, but we were hoping you could give us a little extra guidance. Samuel

Dear Dave, I decided a couple of years ago to start following your plan. Part of getting out of debt for me included paying off my car. I’m taking your advice, and saving up to pay cash for my next vehicle. I know you like mutual funds, so should I put the money I’m setting aside for that purchase in a mutual fund? Corey

Dear Dave, Do you have suggestions on how to interact with debt collectors? Sometimes they are reasonable and easy to work with, but others are rude and pushy. Your advice would be appreciated. Paul

Dear Dave, What exactly is a zero-based budget? Dean

Dear Dave, I have $11,000 in a mutual fund account that is not a retirement account. My wife has a retirement account through her job as a teacher, but I do not have one at all. We’re in Baby Step 2, so should we cash out the $11,000 in the investment account to help pay off debt? Chris

Dear Dave, I’m having a hard time saving money. Do you have any practical advice for saving when you have an average income? Nikki

Dear Dave, My only debt right now is a car payment. I still owe $12,000 on the vehicle, and currently I have $25,000 in savings. I’m in a very stable line of work, but my income can vary somewhat from month to month. Should I hang on to my savings, or pay off the car? Erik

Dear Dave, With COVID-19 and all the resulting economic problems, do you have any advice for what a young person can do to prepare for the future? Kyle

Dear Dave, I’m just starting to pay off my debts. How do you feel about moving credit card balances to other companies in order to get lower rates? It seems like that would help me get out of debt faster. Elizabeth

Dear Dave, I’ve been with my company almost four years. Currently, I make the same money as a co-worker with the same title and the same amount of time on the job. But since we’ve both been there, I have taken on many more responsibilities than he has. What’s your advice on asking for a raise? I feel that I have the right to complain about the situation, and think I should make more money than he does. Vincent

Dear Dave, I’ll be 72 in October, and I have a Roth IRA I haven’t done anything with in a while. I’ve got about $30,000 in it, and I believe I read where the government said there will be a mandatory withdrawal at age 72. If this is true, what should I do with that money? Danny

Dear Dave, What advice do you have for college students who want to plan for the future and start building wealth? I’ll finish my master’s degree in marketing in less than two years, and I’ve been pretty lucky so far because my parents have paid for school. I bring in about $2,200 a month at my job, and I have $24,000 in savings. Alex

Dear Dave, I have a full-time job, but I also have a side job providing firewood to help pay off debt. I make $600 to $1,000 a month with this project. My log splitter went down recently when a hydraulic line burst, and the machine caught on fire. I’m not sure how much it will cost to get it going again. Should I invest in a new one that will increase my productivity and help me pay off debt faster? Chris

Dear Dave, My in-laws have very generously offered my wife and I $250,000 to help with a down payment on a home. I know the amount exceeds the IRS’s yearly gift allowance, but they want to structure it as a family loan and have already told us they don’t care if we pay it back. If we accept, we technically owe them a lot of money. If we say no, they may be offended. What do you think about this and how it might impact the relationship? James

Dear Dave, I’m single, and I’ll be a pilot in the military for the next 10 years. I’m also debt-free, have a fully funded emergency fund, and I’m saving 15% of my income for retirement. After my military days are over, I plan to work as a commercial pilot. I’ve done the math, and I have about $20,000 a year to give, have fun with and build wealth. My question is about wealth building. When it comes to rental properties, I know you don’t like the idea of being a long-distance landlord. Since I’m in the military, there’s a good chance I’ll move around a bit. What should I do? Rachel

Dear Dave, My wife and I are on Baby Step 2 of your plan. About eight months ago she gave birth to our second child, and now she would like to have a mommy makeover. I want her to be comfortable and feel good about herself, but those procedures can be really expensive. I don’t know how to fit that in with trying to pay off debt and get control of our money. What do you think? Greg

Dear Dave, My husband and I are about to start Baby Step 5. We want to save money for college to help our children, but we’re a little worried about starting a 529 Plan and being penalized if we pull the money out for trade school or they don’t finish their studies. What do you think we should do? Dani

Dear Dave, So many companies and entrepreneurs are hurting right now. With everything that’s going on in the world, I find myself ashamed to celebrate business successes. In the past, I’ve always shared highlights with our customers to show them how amazing they are and how much their support means. How can I navigate this time without making others feel bad? Alyssa

Dear Dave, What exactly is the debt snowball, and why is it such an important part of your plan? Lee