Greetings Julia: The only money advice you need: It’s not about how much you make, it’s what you spend. Lots of folks out there will tell you all about how “much” they might make or what they have going on. Trouble is, many are broke or headed that way, and it’s mostly their own doing.

And for the workplace or manager: It’s always about the people. Take care of them, help them, look out for them, do anything you can for them and their families, but at the same time hold them accountable.

For the employee: Take care of your job, and it will take care of you. Work hard, don’t abuse the system, and give the employer an honest day’s work for your pay. If you don’t like where you work, either contribute to help change it for the better or go somewhere else. Don’t moan and complain and ruin it for everyone else.
    — Captain Don

Dear Julia: I think nothing beats the advice of Ben Franklin, who said that when you go into debt you give someone else power over you. Scary, but true. The advice I give my grandchildren is this: Budgeting money is not unlike pacing yourself in an athletic contest: You know what your reserves are and what you have to accomplish with them. So, you manage them in such a way that they’ll go the distance for you. (This is) too long, really, to be a slogan, but another way of looking at it. 
— Merilyn Trocino, Vancouver

Julia: The following was given to me by my father many years ago and has served me well.
“Never loan a friend or relative more than you would give them.”
— C.W. McConnell, Vancouver

Dear Julia: The slogan I have for you is “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” I don’t remember if I came up with it myself, or I read it once, or I heard it from a friend, but I have found it wonderfully useful in all sorts of situations, from business and investing to social and cultural occurrences.
— Rob Woodard, Battle Ground

Rules of Thought from Rob

It isn’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
Get mad and then get over it.
Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
It can be done.
Be careful what you chose. You may get it.
Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.
You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let some else make yours.
Check small things.
Share credit. Remain calm.
Be kind.
Have a vision. Be demanding.
Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
Sometimes being responsible means pissing people off.
You never know what you can get away with unless you try.
You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.
— Rob Bernardi, Camas

And from anonymous: “My mom always said never buy the most expensive and never buy the cheapest.”

Thanks, everyone, for sending in your comments. There will be more next week.

JULIA ANDERSON is The Columbian’s business editor. Reach her at 360-759-8071, or
julia.anderson@columbian.com.