Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
MONEY MANNERS
DEAR JEANNE & LEONARD: One of my best friends is getting married this summer, and he and his fiancee have agreed to enter into a prenuptial agreement. “Joshua” is a wealthy guy, but he hates spending money on attorneys. So, he responded to a “free consultation” ad from a low-rent lawyer and feels he left the consultation knowing enough to draft the agreement himself. Having personally spent several thousand dollars on a prenup, I know there are many issues it’s important for the document to cover, and the agreement Joshua has whipped up addresses very few of them. I’ve told Joshua as much, but he says I worry too much, and refuses to listen. What should I do? The prenup he’s written simply will not protect him.
— Concerned Friend
DEAR CONCERNED FRIEND: Stop worrying. It’s only money.
We’re only half-kidding. Look, were Joshua to refuse to listen when you told him he was too inebriated to drive, you’d have an obligation to take his keys, summon a ride service and deal with the fallout on your friendship. But if he’s too stubborn to listen to sound counsel regarding his financial future, let it go. There’s at least a 50 percent chance his marriage will succeed. And if it doesn’t, presumably your wealthy friend can weather the storm that follows. But in the meantime, you’re under no obligation to strain your friendship by repeatedly telling the groom-to-be something he so clearly doesn’t want to hear.
DEAR JEANNE & LEONARD: Last month I had lunch with a good friend at his favorite restaurant. While there, we received great service from our server, who’d clearly waited on my friend many times before (you’d have thought they were old friends). Cut to this morning. My credit card bill arrived, and I found out the server had added $4 to my tip. (I’d tipped
the amount on a $20 tab, but she put through $8.) Question No. 1: Given that my friend is a frequent customer at this restaurant, should I not challenge the bill? Question No. 2: Should I tell my friend what happened? He might not look all that carefully at his credit card bills, and I’m concerned that the server’s been taking advantage of him.
— Miguel DEAR MIGUEL: Maybe your friend’s in the habit of leaving big tips, and the server wanted to introduce you to the program.
Seriously, notify your credit card company that the tip is incorrect. While mistakes can happen, it’s more likely that the server is counting on your indifference or her show of familiarity with your friend to discourage you from reporting her dishonesty. Either way, though, you’d be doing a disservice to future customers of the restaurant if you failed to report what occurred. In doing so, you needn’t worry about this affecting the treatment your friend receives when he dines there. The last person they’re going to say something to is him. As for telling him yourself, what’s the point? He enjoys the restaurant; he likes the server; and he’s unlikely to thank you for pointing out that she appears to be a petty thief.