DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: In his last year of college I loaned my brother some money to help him pay the last month’s rent before he moved home. He had been working at a restaurant that closed a few weeks before he graduated, and no one wanted to hire someone for such a short time.

I don’t regret helping him out, but that was two years ago, and he has been working steadily since moving back home. He doesn’t pay rent for now, but I do, and every time I remind him about the money he owes me, he tells me he’ll get it for me the next time he gets paid, but so far, nothing’s come my way. I have even mentioned it to our dad, and he sticks up for my brother, saying maybe I should forgive the loan, which I might have thought of doing, but not anymore. It has created tension every time I go home to see my parents and my brother is there and I hate that. Is it petty to want my money back? --- STILL WAITING FOR PAYDAY

DEAR STILL WAITING FOR PAYDAY: Shakespeare’s advice, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” never goes out of style for a reason.

You have a choice to make. Either you give your brother an ultimatum for repayment by a designated date, or you walk away from the debt, forgiving and forgetting ─ two actions that don’t necessarily work together in reality.

If you chose to collect, make the case of your need strong, letting him know you have bills to pay. If you opt for forgiveness, try to look at it as a belated graduation, birthday, Hanukkah, and Christmas gift all rolled into one ─ and, leave it at that.

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.