DEAR DAVE: Our family has an account at a movie rental store. I rented a movie the other day and forgot to take it back on time.
The late fees add up to $20. I'm in college and have a part-time job, so my parents think I should pay the late fees. They started the account, so shouldn't they have to pay the fees?
— Angie
DEAR ANGIE: Technically, I'm sure your parents are responsible for the account. But think about this. You're the one who rented the movie and forgot to take it back on time. If you have a job and access to money, I think you should be the one to make things right.
Chalk this one up as a learning experience, Angie. If you're grown up enough to be in college and have a job, then you're grown up enough to start cleaning up your own messes. That's the way life works. It doesn't mean that your parents don't love you. In fact, it means that they love you enough to teach you a valuable lesson in responsibility.
