DR. WALLACE: I'm a high school senior, and I have a financial dilemma. I did some work around the house for my father, and also down the street for a few neighbors, and I've been able to save up some real money. Several of my friends have motorized bicycles, and I've always wanted one, but my father told me I'll have to earn it with my own money plus buy all the safety accessories, starting with a good helmet.

I have the money to make this purchase now, but a friend and I came up with an idea a few months ago for a home-based business, and we would need some capital to get that started. Right now I have to make a decision because I don't have enough money for both.

Which do you think is the more appropriate use of the capital I have at this time in my life? — Need to Make a Choice, via email

NEED TO MAKE A CHOICE: All things being equal, my advice to you at this point would be to give your home-based business a try first. There are a few reasons for this. First, you have a friend who will also be investing alongside you, and the two of you can collaborate and learn to work together on your idea. Second, no matter whether your venture succeeds, sputters or even fails, you'll gain invaluable experience and be proud of yourself for being proactive and giving your idea a try in the real world.

Finally, if you do succeed, as you make profits with your small business, perhaps you can divide your share of the profits in half, then reinvest 50% back into growing your business while saving the other 50% until you've accumulated enough to make the purchase of the motorized bike you have your eye on. And if your home-based business does not succeed, you'll leave that venture with the experience and a clean slate. You can then go back to doing some more work in the neighborhood, hopefully for your father or anywhere else you can find it, and quickly start building up some savings to still make the purchase of that bike you desire in a reasonable amount of time.

I'M NOW THE ELDEST AND CAN CHOOSE MY CHORES

DR. WALLACE: My older sister went off to college at the beginning of this current school year, and she now lives on campus out of state. I'm the second-oldest of four siblings, so I'm now the eldest living in our family home. Because my sister enjoyed privileges for being the eldest and studying for college, she was allowed to have her pick of the household chores so that she could use her time more for studying than doing routine, mundane household work. Now I'm in that position, and because I have similar college aspirations, I've adjusted my chores around the house, and this has left my two younger siblings very upset with me! The chores I used to have to do, they now have to pick up the slack, and to say the least, they're holding a grudge against me for doing this.

Any ideas on how I could get back in their good graces? — They Don't Like My Selections, via email

THEY DON'T LIKE MY SELECTIONS: A good way to alleviate some of the animosity would be to occasionally jump in and help them do one of the chores you used to do by yourself previously. Of course, don't do this on a night when you have to study for a big exam, for example.

There should be times you can have some situational awareness and simply jump in unannounced to work side-by-side with both of your younger siblings to give them a hand here and there. As you do so, use that time to thank them both for helping you to pick up the slack and giving you more time to focus on your studies.

Beyond that, whenever you can pick up a small treat, snack or anything you know they care about, do so and give those small gifts to them to promote the camaraderie as much as you can. Thank them for their help and communicate with them regularly and often. This is the best way to reestablish good relations to the best extent possible.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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