DEAR HARRIETTE: I like to read. When I am not doing anything else, I love to sit outside and read a good book. I read them fast, and I do not want to keep spending money on books. It has added up. I have to spend my money on more important things, but losing the enjoyment is hard. What should I do? -- Bookworm, Burlington, Vermont

DEAR BOOKWORM: Kudos to you for being an avid reader. Now, I am going to recommend that you do something that is “old school,” but truly works. Join your local library. You can borrow books for free as often as you want, as long as you return them on time. The library is an amazing resource for all kinds of information. In addition to finding all manner of books, you can also rent films, hear authors speak and participate in other community activities.

Beyond the library, you can go to secondhand stores that carry books to see what treasures you may find there. You can also search online, where you will find many websites that sell affordable books. Enjoy searching!

DEAR HARRIETTE: One of my good guy friends has been drinking and driving pretty often. Everyone knows he does it, and no one ever does anything about it. Whenever I catch him doing it, I make him leave his car wherever he is and come with me. Recently, I caught him, and he wouldn’t get out of his car. Instead, he drove away with his friends in the car. He doesn’t understand how much trouble he can get into if he is caught, or how much danger he is putting the people around him in. He gets annoyed with me every time I yell at him for it. I need to do something about it -- what? -- Drunk Driver, Portland, Oregon

DEAR DRUNK DRIVER: When your friend is sober, sit down with him and describe how erratic and dangerous he becomes when he’s drunk and decides, belligerently, to get behind the wheel. Express in strong, clear language that you are worried for his life and for the lives of others around him when he drives in that condition. If he tries to brush it off or pick a verbal fight, do not fall into his trap. Point out that he should have a good idea when he plans to go to a party, bar or other setting where he is likely to drink. Suggest that he leave his car at home or ask someone to be the designated driver for the evening.

Point out that in most cities, Uber or Lyft or other similar ride services are available to pick people up. Many are using these in lieu of driving themselves when they think the choice is safer. Encourage your friend to plan in advance for those moments when leaving his car is the best choice.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: A friend’s mom recently told her that she had put on a few pounds and needed to lose it. When my friend mentioned it to me, I took it as a joke, like I thought she would, because she does not need to lose weight. A few days later, I walked into her house and there were sticky notes on the food cabinets and the refrigerator. One of them said, “Do not eat unless you are hungry.” The other one said, “Are you hungry?” I tried to act as if everything was normal, but that just isn’t normal. I am not sure how to act or what to do. Do I do anything? -- Weight Loss, Richmond, Virginia

DEAR WEIGHT LOSS: Let’s start with the reality that you are not a doctor, and neither is your friend’s mother. The best thing you might be able to do is to encourage your friend to get a physical from a medical practitioner to make sure she's healthy. A doctor can measure and weigh her to see if she is of a proper weight for her size and age. If she can go to her own general practitioner, she can also get a comparison to her previous weight. Encourage her to speak directly with her doctor about her concerns, including what her mother said.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Two of my best friends had a falling-out. One of them is still in my main clique of friends, but the other is in another friend group now. She did not want to be a part of this other girl’s life, so she started hanging out with different girls. It is hard for me to keep a friendship with her because I don’t see her as often, and no one in my friend group likes her. All my friends always tell me to stop talking to her or to stop trying because she is mean. She is still one of my best friends, and I want to keep our relationship, but it is difficult when all my friends keep telling me to stop talking to her. What do I say to them? -- Blueberry, Seattle

DEAR BLUEBERRY: Do not succumb to peer pressure. It is OK for you to be part of more than one friend group, and you can do it without advertising to either group who your other friends are. Your core group will likely stop complaining about the other friend if you stop talking about her.

Instead of working to win them over to welcome your friend, let them be. Look at your life and schedule to see when and how you can make time for the distant friend. Do not allow others to bully you into extricating yourself from someone whom you consider a best friend.

If your other friends call you out about remaining friends with this person, stand up for yourself. Tell them that you intend to remain her friend, even if she is not part of their clique anymore.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: An ex-boyfriend keeps messaging me at 4 a.m., when intoxicated, saying something like, “I miss you.” I never acknowledge it, but it continues to happen.

I want him to stop messaging me, but I don’t know if that’s him indirectly saying he wants to talk to me about something. I want him to stop. Do I say something? If so, how do I word it nicely? -- Past Midnight, Austin, Texas

DEAR PAST MIDNIGHT: Your ex may be remorseful about the way your relationship ended. He may even want to get back together. So what! I don’t mean to be harsh, but I want you to throw some cold water in your face and look at what’s happening. He is not being respectful of you when he texts you in the wee hours of the morning, drunk, lamenting his state. This behavior is extremely selfish and unworthy of your attention. Saying something will not help matters, either, as that will let him know that you are noticing his texts.

Put your phone on “do not disturb” during your normal sleeping hours. That way you will not hear the buzz or chirp of a text or a call. You can also block his number if the messaging gets too frequent.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I know a friend who went to a formal date party with this guy who happened to be on a number of drugs. He was acting out of control, throwing things at people and at windows. He was all over the place. The people around him told him to stop, or they would call the cops. He did not stop, and they had to call the cops. When the cops arrived, they put the man in cuffs and arrested him. My friend told the cops everything, but left out the part where he pushed her. It did not sit well with her, and I would think she should fill in the gaps to the cops. Should I tell her? -- Formal Dates, Cheyenne, Wyoming

DEAR FORMAL DATES: Regardless of whether the date was formal or casual, it is never appropriate for someone to act out and behave violently. Your friend should have told the police that her date pushed her, and it’s not too late to do so. She can call or go to the precinct to inform the arresting officer of the additional details of the evening. If she is afraid that this person may retaliate if he knows that she told the police, she should make that clear to them as well.

If and when this person gets in touch with her again, she should be clear that she is not interested in getting together with him -- if that is true. If she thinks he will hear her, she can tell him about his behavior and about how concerned she was at his actions.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)