DEAR READERS: Most of us seem to go through the majority of November and December rushing around, overspending, overstressing, and overdoing. My own experience is that just when I’m ready to relax and enjoy the holidays, they’re all over.

Please take time this holiday season, no matter what your personal beliefs and traditions, to savor the moments you get to have with those you most love ─ and even with those you just kind-of like.

We get eight days of Hanukkah, seven days of Kwanzaa, and 12 days of Christmas (with the Epiphany bonus). Take advantage of these precious days, and if you’re in a good place, please reach out to someone who may be hurting. Let them know they’re not alone. And, if you yourself are in a bad place, believe there are people who care for and about you, and that you’ve got plenty to offer now and in the future.

To all my readers and commenters, best wishes for a good Christmas. --- ASK SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Whenever my mom comes to visit my apartment, she makes jokes about my being Felix to my roommate’s Oscar. The problem is, I no longer find the joke funny. My roommate is a sweetheart, but he just can’t keep his mess to himself. This is beyond ignoring all the coasters I put out and hints I drop about cleaning up after himself. It’s getting Board of Health time, you know what I mean? What do I do to wake this boy up? --- OK, SO I AM A FELIX

DEAR OK: It’s time you lay down the law. Either he cleans up after himself or he’s got to get someone in to do his share of the housework. If you start taking care of his messes, you’ll only enable him and possibly begin to resent him ─ not to mention he needs to be held responsible for his part in keeping your home livable for you both.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Every year my wife and I agree to not spend more than $100 on each other for Christmas, and instead put some money towards something we need for the house our maybe a better vacation.

Last year, like she has done for the other of the six years we have been married, my wife went overboard and spent way more than what we agreed on. Her overspending makes me angry because we could use that money for something we both could enjoy, and it makes me look like a cheapskate. What can I do to make her keep in budget? --- FRUGAL, NOT CHEAP

DEAR FRUGAL, NOT CHEAP: I don’t think staying within an agreed upon budget makes you a cheapskate. But you need to make it clear to your wife that that’s how her ignoring the limit makes you feel.

It might help if you can more specifically focus her spending. Set up a savings account for a particular home improvement or designated dream vacation and let her know her best gift to you would be to make that fund grow so you can both enjoy her generosity.