DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My boss has always been on the cheap side, at least for the three years I’ve worked for him, but it has gotten really bad lately. He is having the staff take turns bringing in toilet paper, paper towels, and cleaning supplies. The cleaning crew has been cancelled, and now we’re also in charge of cleaning the kitchen and bathroom on a rotating schedule.

I get everyone is looking to help the bottom line, and the work we do is important and makes me feel like I’m making a difference, but doesn’t this sound like too much cheapness? --- NEXT UP ON NAPKINS

DEAR NEXT UP ON NAPKINS: This situation is sending up big red flags. Your company may be in financial trouble if the cost-cutting is becoming extreme.

A less dire possibility is your boss wants everyone invested in the daily life of the company ─ literally. If everyone knows they’re going to have a turn cleaning the shared areas, hopefully everyone will also be more inclined to take care of their surroundings.

For your sake, I hope it’s option B. Just in case though, you might want to start polishing your resume.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I have a golden lab and my roommate has a tabby cat. The animals get along just fine, but that cat is one destructive furball. So far, she’s trashed my leather recliner, shredded the legs of the kitchen table and chairs, and damaged the carpets with her peeing outside the litter box.

I keep my dog crated while I’m out of the apartment, but the cat is free to roam and destroy at will.

I’ve spoken to my roommate about the problem a bunch of times, but she just laughs it off with a cute remark about cats will be cats.

I’m done with her cat, but I can’t afford to live without a roommate. If my dog is expected to behave, why can’t this cat be controlled better? --- DOG GUY

DEAR DOG GUY: Perhaps your roommate could follow your lead and confine the cat when no one is around to stop its destructive behavior. Keeping the cat secured in one particular room or even in a crate might help minimize some of the damage.

You also need to make your concerns very clear to your roommate. Let her know you find it neither cute nor unimportant, especially when it’s your belongings that are being ruined.

If she can’t control her pet, be sure she understands she’ll have to replace the items her cat destroys. Being held financially responsible for the actions of her pet might help her take your complaints seriously.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: My mom is driving me crazy with her always calling or texting me with reminders of stuff she wants to make sure I don’t forget to do, like I am a kindergartener or something, instead of an adult man. I asked my sister about whether or not Mom does this to her, and she told me no.

How do I get my mother off my back? --- NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE

DEAR NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE: I agree that adults should be treated like adults, but it’s up to them to act that way. Have you given your mother cause to believe you might not be the most organized person in the world?

If you believe your mom is unfairly singling you out, or not trusting you to take care of things for yourself, by all means, talk to her; but also listen to what she has to say about how she sees you getting by. It may be that she’s having trouble cutting the apron strings ─ or that you actually could use a little nudge now and again.