Q: If you get caught in a rip current, don't panic. You'll have a better shot at getting out of the situation if you stay calm. Keeping your cool can help you conserve energy and think clearly. Escape involves floating with the current, then swimming parallel to the shore to cross the current's edge. If you can’t swim, call for help and wave your arms to get the attention of a lifeguard or other people on the beach. If you know how to swim, you should be able to escape and swim back to shore at an angle away from the current. However, if you have any doubt about your ability to break free of the current, call and wave for help. or tread water until you can swim out of the current. Your instincts may be to fight the current and swim directly back to shore. However, that’s the most dangerous thing you could do. Instead, focus on keeping your head above water until the current has weakened and you're able to swim through its boundary.  Most rip currents weaken about 50 to 100 yards (46 to 91 m) from shore. Once the current has begun to subside, you’ll have an easier time swimming out of it. Even the strongest swimmers can’t fight a rip current. Trying to swim against it can lead to exhaustion and drowning. Most rip currents are between 30 and 100 feet (9.1 and 30.5 m) wide. Look for the nearest breaking waves; they indicate the current’s edge. Swim toward the waves, and be sure to move parallel to the shore instead of directly towards it. Once you are out of the current, make your way back to shore at an angle away from the current. Swimming diagonally away from the rip current minimizes the chance that you'll reenter it.  Rip currents often form around jetties and other structures perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to the beach. If you are near one of these structures, swim away from it. If necessary, stop and float periodically to rest. If you’re exhausted and can’t swim any further, call for help and wave your arms.
A: Remain calm. Call for help if you’re not a strong swimmer. Float Swim parallel to shore to escape the current. Swim diagonally to the shore after you're out of the current.

Q: Confronting people about money related issues can be difficult. Preparing yourself in advance will result in the best outcome. Know what you’ll say in advance. This prevents you from going on and on, straying off topic or saying things you don’t mean. You're not calling out your friend just to make them feel bad. The best way to get a solution, is to suggest one yourself.  You can try, “We’ll take turns choosing where we go. You can choose the next outing.” Reassure them that you don’t have to spend money to have fun together. Go through the conversation in your head. Include how you think they’ll respond. Picture the positive outcome that you hope to get from the confrontation. If thinking about confronting this person brings up negative emotions, you may not be ready to confront them yet. Confrontations, no matter how tactful, don’t always end well. Prepare for a stubborn friend to get angry or remain in denial. Know how you’ll respond if the confrontation takes a bad turn. Emotional confrontations rarely go well. If you allow yourself to get upset and start lecturing the person, they are likely to respond emotionally simply because of your approach. When stating your complaint, don’t include your opinions or judgements. It comes off as condescending. You don’t want this person to feel like you are insulting their character. Stay focused on the unwanted behavior, not the person. A helpful technique often used in therapy is “When you [unwanted action], I feel [emotional response]” statements. This approach allows the person to see the direct effects of their behavior. It also shows that you are coming from a genuine place of hurt, not simply complaining about them.   For example, “When you never offer to pay for the check, I feel like you don’t value our friendship.” Or, “When you ‘forget your wallet’ every time we hang out, I feel like I’m being taken advantage of.” If you’ve approached the problem with maturity and tact and still get bad results, then consider whether this person is a positive addition to your life.  If you still consider this person a valuable part of your life, then you must learn how to cope with this problem in your life long term. If this person brings nothing but negativity and hardship to your life, then end communication with them. You can rest assured that you did your part in trying to resolve the problem.
A: Plan your approach. Have a solution prepared. Visualize an ideal outcome. Be ready for anything. Confront the person while calm. Don’t talk down. Address the behavior only. Use “When you, I feel” statements. Reevaluate the relationship.

Q: Don't carry much cash in your wallet and, should you have any debit or credit cards, try to avoid bringing them everywhere. This way you will not be tempted to spend money on unnecessary items or make impulsive decisions when at a store. Instead of carrying everything you might need (all your available cash, debit card, several credit cards, etc.), carry only what you know you'll need.  Stick a few bucks and (if you insist) one credit card in your pocket when you go to the mini-mart, for instance. Whenever you receive money, whether it be a gift or your allowance, take your savings out right away and set them aside. This will ensure that you don't spend the money you intend to save. The best part is that once you have set aside your savings, you can spend the rest! It is important to enjoy life and live a little bit after all. Think like Uncle Sam.  The government takes out income taxes before people get their paychecks.  If you take your savings cut out of your income right away and put it somewhere that is not easy to access, it will be easier to forget that it was available to spend in the first place ("out of sight, out of mind"). For instance, spending money on your future is almost always wise.  You should feel good about spending money when it's an investment in your future and future earning power.  For example, save for school if you plan to go to college. If you plan to be a singer, spend money on voice lessons. Spend money on appropriate clothing if you get an office job. It's perfectly acceptable to spend money in order to promote yourself and, in turn, eventually earn more money.  That said, if you are sticking to your newfound saving habits well, a little spending here and there isn't such a bad thing.  Think of it as investing in your current happiness. Yes, a dollar is a dollar, but what does that really mean?  Remember that, for the most part (excepting gifts) money is what you earn for doing something. When you work, you are exchanging money for your time. You need to decide if what you want is worth the time it will take for you to earn the money to be able to buy it.  For example, if you get an allowance of $5 per week and you want to buy a video game for $50, then you will need 10 weeks of allowance money to buy the game. That will take a long time to save, so think about whether or not it is worth it to you. Further, can you buy that game and balance your other needs for the money, such as putting money into your “Spend,” “Give,” and “Grow” jars? Each time you spend money, it represents a trade-off. You need to think carefully about what you value and make decisions accordingly.
A:
Carry as little money around with you as possible. Save before spending. Spend money on the things that matter. Place a value on money.