DEAR HARRIETTE: I am working with an independent contractor on a fundraising project. He seems to be good at what he does, but he does a lot of traveling to get to meetings. I feel like he spends more time driving to and from appointments than actually getting the work done. In this day and age, it seems like plenty of meetings could be handled by telephone or Skype, FaceTime, Zoom or some other interactive technology that is more efficient than jumping in a car to drive for a couple of hours. How can I get my point across to this man? He is kind of old-school and likes meeting face to face, but we have deadlines we are dealing with, and I worry that his travel is getting in the way of meeting them. -- Park Your Car

DEAR PARK YOUR CAR: Speak up, express your concerns and share your suggestions. Since this man is accustomed to the personal touch of meeting in person, he may think he’s not being professional to switch to making a call -- even if it does include video. Here’s your chance to educate him on the way many people conduct meetings these days.

You may want to guide this man through the process to ensure that he knows how to facilitate such a meeting with ease. Since you are proficient with this technology, it may seem like a piece of cake to you. Some of these commonly used technological features seem daunting for people who have yet to engage them. Make it easy for him to learn how to step into the future.

DEAR HARRIETTE: A woman volunteered to help me at an event I hosted a few months ago. She had smart ideas and did a good job, but she brought a whole lot of drama with her. She was loud. She is a chain smoker, so she kept having to go outside for cigarette breaks; every time she walked back in, a cloud of smoke trailed her. Generally, her energy was a bit off-putting.

This woman recently reached out to me to say she wants to help out at my next event. I am not sure I want to do that. I appreciate her generosity, but I worry that just being herself will be too much for me. How do I handle this? I want to be sensitive to her. I can’t really say, "I don’t want you because I don’t like the way you behave," can I? -- Not a Good Fit

DEAR NOT A GOOD FIT: You can graciously decline her offer. How? Respond to her, thanking her for her offer to support you. Then tell her that you have the help you need already and you will not be needing her services. It can be that simple. You do not owe her an explanation.

(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: I belong to a social club that has high dues but offers a lot of activities for my family. I have been willing to spend the money because it has been good for the kids, but this year has been tough for me. It seems like the costs have gone up just as my resources have diminished.

I contacted the financial secretary to see if I could get a break just this year because of my financial situation. I was embarrassed to ask, but I didn’t know what else to do. I was granted a payment plan -- not a discount. I appreciate that, but now I wonder if I should stay in the organization. -- Too High a Price

DEAR TOO HIGH A PRICE: You need to weigh the pros and cons. Write down what the benefits of belonging to this organization have been. Look across several years to see how engaged your children have been and how consistent their involvement has been. This is important so that you can see how your money is being utilized. Then consider the other things you do with your children or that you pay for them to do. What do all of these things add up to, and which are most valuable?

Finally, look at your current budget. What can you afford? If you simply can’t swing it, you will need to either resign from the group or ask for a sabbatical for a year. Sometimes organizations will allow you to pause your involvement for extenuating circumstances.

Don’t forget that you can get creative and design activities for and with your kids independent of an organization. And if your children have forged bonds with some of the children in the club, you may be able to include them in your activities anyway. You don’t have to have the formal connection to keep the children together.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was working on a project with a long-term client when my main contact left to go to another company. I continued and completed the project, but when I turned in my invoice, there was a disagreement over what I was hired to do. Now my check is being held up because not everything was written down. I know that’s my fault. But I had worked with these people for years, and there had never been an issue. How can I get it resolved without damaging my relationship with the new leadership? -- Rocky Transition

DEAR ROCKY TRANSITION: If your former contact maintained a positive relationship with this company, perhaps they can help you out. Contact your person and explain the situation. Ask if they would be willing to step in and share the details of the handshake negotiation that they made with you on behalf of the company. That may help to clarify things.

You may want to consider making a compromise. If you value this client and want to continue to work with the company, you may need to accept the terms that they have offered and pledge to yourself to get a contract in the future.

(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: I have been paying the minimums on a pile of credit cards for years. I don’t seem to be getting anywhere. I barely keep my creditors at bay. I have never had a high-paying job, and I have needed credit in order to make ends meet. I will not be able to work forever. I am worried that I will be paying these bills for the rest of my life. Do you think it is wise to go to one of those credit consolidators for help? I don’t know what to do. -- Drowning in Debt

DEAR DROWNING IN DEBT: You are wise to be thinking about what you can do to consolidate your debt at this time. Do your research to figure out what is best for you. There are several things that consumers do when they get into financial trouble. My research shows three key options. 1) Debt settlement allows your debt to be negotiated to a lower interest rate or principal. 2) Debt relief is when you convince a debtor to forgive some or part of what you owe them. 3) Debt consolidation occurs when you take out a loan that pays for all of your debt and then you pay off that one bill.

You can call around to learn how each of these options works, but before you make a choice, get professional input. You can talk to a financial adviser at your bank -- for free. Figure out which option works best for you to help you become debt-free within a particular period of time.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My teenage daughter has been having significant mood swings of late. One day she comes home with a pleasant attitude. The next day she is super snippy. We have always been close, but I worry that it is changing. I want to stay connected to her, but I can’t allow her to talk to me any way she pleases. To that end, she actually apologized to me yesterday and admitted that she had been in a terrible mood the day before. I thanked her for noticing and told her that it sometimes is hard for me when she is so snippy. Is there anything else I can do? -- Teenage Blues

DEAR TEENAGE BLUES: Medical experts say that mood swings are common among teenagers due to hormonal changes, lack of sleep, poor eating habits and social stressors. While you should not allow your teen to speak to you disrespectfully, experts suggest that it is smart for you to resist reacting immediately to mood swings. Instead, attempt to show compassion. Let your teen know that you understand that waves of emotion can sometimes make them behave in extreme ways. Continue to keep the lines of communication open so that you and your daughter talk as much as possible about everything. In this way, when touchy subjects come up, you have created space to discuss them comfortably.

One note for parents: If your teen’s moods seem too intense, look for warning signs of a bigger problem: prolonged irritability; extreme feelings of highs and lows; feelings of unworthiness; erratic behavior; failing grades; suspected substance abuse; refusal to participate in activities previously enjoyed; and talk of self-harm or suicide. For more support, go to aha-now.com/cope-with-teenage-mood-swings.

(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.)