DR. WALLACE: I set a goal of losing a lot of weight by July Fourth and I've achieved my goal! I'm thrilled with my new look and very happy that I have also greatly improved my health along the way.

I followed the usual advice of eating much healthier and simultaneously engaging in a regular exercise plan. That combination has worked really well for me.

However, I do have a new problem that I had never even thought about previously. All of my clothes are now way too big for me, and I have precious few new outfits to wear since my part-time job affords me the modest amount to spend on discretionary items above and beyond my regular monthly financial obligations.

What can I do about this? I'm literally wearing only three items and rotating them regularly. — Thrilled but Facing a New Challenge, via email

THRILLED BUT FACING A NEW CHALLENGE: First of all, congratulations are in order! I'm very glad to hear the truth. You had a goal, applied yourself regularly and make meaningful changes in your life.

As to your challenging new situation, I suggest that you divvy your previous clothes up into four or five bundles and do some research on the locations of secondhand stores like Goodwill, the Salvation Army and various thrift shops. Take one of your bundles to each location and donate it, then go inside and browse through the clothing items that are in that store.

Hopefully, if you repeat this a handful of times, you'll be able to find a few more clothing combinations you can wear in the short term until you can gradually purchase newer and more modern clothes overtime in increments as your budget allows.

HE SAVES UP FOR MONTHS TO BUY FIREWORKS FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY

DR. WALLACE: I have a younger brother who is 18 and literally lives for the Fourth of July holiday! He works extra hours at his job, takes all of the extra money he earns and buys fireworks with it! He buys so many that it's literally staggering to me. Several of his friends do the same, and then they all go to a canyon where large a cliff provides them a spot to shoot the fireworks off for several hours running. Many of their friends and acquaintances drive out there to witness this mini-show. Unfortunately, it's too far away from the center of our town for anybody to witness it but his select group of friends. They do provide videos later, but I'm sure they don't do the actual performance justice.

What I want to know is why would anyone spend so much money for just a few hours? Does this mean that he is more patriotic than I am? I don't understand this at all, but then again, I'm 21 and his older sister. — I Just Don't Get It, via email

I JUST DON'T GET IT: I agree with you from the perspective that I would rather watch fireworks at a local city celebration with a group of friends and neighbors for free than I would be setting up my own special performance and spending a lot of money doing so, but to each their own.

I wouldn't say that your brother is more patriotic than you are, but rather that he is more caught up in exploding fireworks himself, which could be a macho thing for some guys to do, including your brother.

My main concern would be safety at such an unauthorized private show, both for the audience and for those igniting the combustibles.

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.

Photo credit: Diana Polekhina at Unsplash