Dear Luci,My preteen son (almost teen) is a pretty good kid. He gets good grades, generally does what he is told, is kind and empathetic; however, I have one major problem -  he has no social skills. He is friendly with our immediate family and his close friends, but he is extremely shy, which comes off to me as rude to others. If not in a completely comfortable situation, his demeanor is uncomfortable and his facial expression is unfriendly. He expects others to approach him to hang out or talk to, but I explained to him that the way that he carries himself is not welcoming. He rides with …

Dear Luci, The hubby and I have been talking about finances, investing, etc. We each have 401ks for retirement, and a several month "safety net" for now, but it's a daunting task to start deciding what to do with savings. Should we try on our own? Put in back into fixing up the house? Interview financial advisors? We're not sure where to start.Sincerely,Saving in Southampton Dear Saving,No matter how much they make, most of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Yet you and your husband have somehow managed to get ahead. Nice work!Now let me say this. I am not a financial expert.  However…

Dear Luci, I have a problem with one of my coworkers and I do not know how to handle it.  He comes in late everyday,  yells over the cubicles and leaves Chinese food in the refrigerator for weeks at a time.  Last week he asked if I had a stamp for him to borrow, then he took the entire book.  I want to say something to him, but I don’t want to ruffle any feathers.  What can I do to make this guy more considerate of others?Bullied in Bristol   Dear Bullied, It sounds like you have some resentment towards your colleague, and resentment often leads to anger.  Many cognitive behaviorists say …

Hi Luci, I am planning a wedding and one thing my fiancée and I never thought about was what to do with our finances after we get married.  Should we have one checking and one savings account? Do we continue to keep our finances separate?  Or do we have several accounts, some that are joint and some that we keep for ourselves?  Hoping you can help us come to a conclusion that is fair and that we both feel comfortable with. Thanks  Marrying in May Dear Marrying, First let me congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials.  Second, on your foresight.  Money is the number one issue that couples …

Dear Luci,We are looking to move into the area. I have a child who will be going to school next year.I hear a lot of different opinions about the various school systems. How can I get information I can trust on the different schools? We are not limiting our daughter to only public schools, we also want to look at private ones.Any help would be appreciated.Needs Schooling on Schools   Dear Needs Schooling, The first thing you need to consider when choosing a school is your child. You want to look into schools that will offer a curriculum that fits her and supports her needs. Good districts …

Help! I am in my mid-30's and recently lost my job. I am thinking about switching careers. I don't know what I want to do.  Where do I start? How can I figure out what I would like to do and what I would be good at? Soul Searching in Solebury   Dear Searching, Believe it or not, losing your job could be good news.  Many successful people say that getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to them.  It forced them to take a long hard look at themselves and their aspirations. With that being said, know that you are not alone.  Many Americans are considering a new career path.  The good…

Hi Luci, What do you do when you have two adult daughters living with you and their two children age 3 and 5? Each mom has their own opinion on how to raise the boys and it is very difficult. Any suggestions? -Kitty Dear Kitty, The way you need to look at this situation really depends on your concerns.  Are you upset that you have two adult children living in your house, or do you enjoy having the family together?  There is no rule that says offspring have to move out by a certain age. In fact, it is becoming more common for college students to move back home due to unemployment. However, …

Times are tough. The economy’s in the toilet, people are losing their jobs and this winter weather is enough to make you want to hibernate until the daffodils bloom. You're juggling everything from relationships to work, babies to beauty and it isn't easy. Sometimes even the little questions can be overwhelming. You don't need to go it alone. If you're having relationship, career, financial or family issues, or if you simply have a question about what to wear for the next Nor’easter, write to me at PatchAskLuci@gmail.com. No question or problem is too silly or small, I promise. Look for my …