DEAR HARRIETTE: I post a lot on social media, which is fun. It got me in a bit of hot water this summer, though. I was driving with my family and posting shots along the way. When I got to my destination, I started getting messages from people who live there asking me if we could get together. I had already planned my trip, and we didn’t have time to visit with the people who were getting in touch with me. I felt kind of bad about it, but what could I do?

My husband is always telling me I shouldn’t post so much. He likes flying under the radar. He used this experience to do an “I told you so.” I get that there can be awkward moments, but I also don’t think I have to see everybody who asks me just because they are tracking me on social media. How should I handle this in the future if people who see my posts want to get together? -- On the Grid, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

DEAR ON THE GRID: Some people post their experiences on a slight delay so they aren’t revealing their lives in real time. You can consider waiting until you get home to share your story. The added benefit here is that people in your hometown don’t know when you are away, so it could keep your home safer, too.

You can also not respond to people who are reaching out as you are on an adventure. You can even post that you won’t be answering people’s inquiries until you finish your trip. That should do it!

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband has taken to dyeing his hair black. Never mind he has had white hair for about 10 years. Going all the way to black looks pretty severe to me. When I have suggested he go for a softer color, he balked. He said it doesn’t matter if people knew him with white hair, and he is dyeing it himself. He lets it fade and colors it when he feels like it, so it’s kind of messy.

I want to figure out how to support him through this period, which kind of feels like a midlife crisis. If he’s going to do it, I think he should take it more seriously so he doesn’t look crazy. I suppose I should be happy he didn’t go out and buy a luxury car or something. Still, he looks kind of strange. How can I help him? -- Good Wife, Milwaukee

DEAR GOOD WIFE: Rather than complain about how sloppy or crazy you think your husband looks, offer to help him maintain his new look. If he is doing at-home dyeing, offer to be his colorist. Read the box and follow the directions. It can be a fun way for the two of you to bond. Once your husband gets comfortable with your help, you may be able to introduce a slight color change. Go to the store and study the different colors offered. Often the colors presented for men include touch-up brushes for mustaches and beards too.

Have fun with your husband during this time. He will appreciate your welcoming of his quirky idea to recapture a moment of youth. If you help him figure out a color and maintenance schedule that keeps him looking consistent, you may even get used to his new look.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I know a lot of people. As a result, I’ve noticed people contact me all the time to put them in touch with others. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but then I noticed a couple of these frequent callers are actually booking people for appearances on TV or for speaking engagements. It seems like everybody is getting paid except me. How can I leverage my relationships so I get a piece of the action? -- Making Connections, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MAKING CONNECTIONS: Consider starting a business where you claim what you already do -- that you make connections. Figure out a price structure that works based upon a range of factors. For example, putting people together who start a business together may have a different value than someone who speaks at a senior center. Consider what the budgets are that may be available for different situations. Do your research to see what others are paid who offer this service. I know one woman who requires a 15 percent fee for any connections she makes -- that would be 15 percent of whatever the yield is for that setup. Of course, trust has to figure in because it’s not always easy to know what people earn from these bonds.

Another idea is to become a producer or booker for a media company. Producers are responsible for pitching ideas for segments or episodes, and this includes finding guests who match the topic. If you are a creative thinker with great connections, this could be a fulfilling option for you that doesn’t require you to be an entrepreneur but that does offer you compensation for your reach into the community.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Out of the blue I got a call from a guy I went to college with back in the '80s. We were associates back then but friendly enough. He got my number through our college alumni directory and asked if he could come and stay with me for a week. He wants to visit the Big Apple, and he knows I live here. I haven’t called him back yet. I don’t mean to be rude, but I hardly know this guy. I am willing to meet up with him when he’s in town, but I am not comfortable hosting him at my home. What do I say? -- Crossing the Line, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR CROSSING THE LINE: Be kind and direct. Call him back and tell him it’s nice that he is going to have an opportunity to visit New York City. It is also nice that he is looking to reconnect with you after so many years. Offer to meet up with him at a restaurant or cultural activity when he comes to town. Tell him you are sorry, but he will not be able to stay at your home. You don’t have to give a reason. You can just say no.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to a business conference this summer and met several people who know my older brother. When they heard my name, they asked if my brother and I were siblings. I was happy to meet people who were connected to my family. Later in the evening, after everybody had had a few drinks, these same people let loose and started telling me terrible stories about my brother. One guy told me that my brother had stolen money from the job and was fired as a result. Another guy told me my brother was known to be rude and loud on the job and, even though he is smart, many people didn’t like working with him.

I knew my brother had lost his job, but he said he was laid off because of budget cuts. I feel so bad for him. I’m also worried about my reputation. So far I have done well in my career. I don’t want my brother’s bad behavior to impact me. What can I do? -- Guilt by Association, Jackson, Mississippi

DEAR GUILT BY ASSOCIATION: What you can and must do is your best on the job. You have to build your own reputation for the way that you work and interact with others. People may look at you skeptically at first, but in the end it will be your performance that counts the most.

You can also ask that people not bad-mouth your brother to you. Make it known you love your brother. You are sorry for anything he may have done that rubbed them the wrong way, but that is in the past. You should also tell your brother what these people are saying about him. He has his own reputation to repair. If he has any doubt as to how much work he has to do, you will be doing him a favor, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, by giving him the heads-up.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I came home from work today to discover that my electricity was not working. I checked the breakers and everything seemed OK, but nothing worked. I was about to call and yell at the super when it occurred to me that my husband may not have paid the bill. I called him, and sure enough that was it. We paid right away but lost most of the food that we had just bought.

I am livid. This points to how poorly we have been managing our money for quite some time now. We need to have a serious conversation about our finances, but I haven’t been able to get my husband to participate. What can I say to start the conversation? -- Last Straw, Syracuse, New York

DEAR LAST STRAW: Ask your husband if he will give you 30 minutes to talk about family business. Point out that you think it is necessary for the two of you to create a budget that you both follow and that includes dates of when bills need to be paid. Ask him if he will work with you on this so you don’t lose your power or even your home due to neglect. Plead if necessary, and offer to do whatever you can to set it up so that it's easy for both of you to follow.