DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 now and I have a steady boyfriend plus a decent part-time job in my hometown. I go to our local junior college and so far, I'm enjoying the two classes I'm in. I'm not sure if I'll stay in college over the long run, but for now it's interesting and I can take the courses that I like, so it's all good at this point.

However, after much thought I've decided that I want to be a stay-at-home mom. Is this even possible these days? With inflation and the price of gas, I really wonder if my goal is a pipe dream rather than a realistic target that I can work toward. What do you think? — Want to Put My Future Children First, via email

WANT TO PUT MY FUTURE CHILDREN FIRST: I do indeed feel it's possible these days for a married couple to have a "stay-at-home" parent to care for the children full time, especially while they are very young.

A key here is budgeting and living within your family's means. No matter how much income your future spouse earns, it will be very important to be proactive when it comes to keeping close track of your monthly income and expenses.

Start a savings account now and encourage your boyfriend to do the same. Any cushion you can bring into a marriage will help. In case he becomes your husband someday, it would be wise for the two of you to set up at least a few loose financial plans right away. And even if he does not become your lifetime mate, your own savings will hopefully grow, and this will be a good thing no matter who you ultimately marry.

Finally, think now about what your skills and interests are. There has never been a better time to start a small home-based business! The advent of web platforms like Etsy, Shopify and Amazon has truly democratized opportunities for nearly anyone who wants to attempt to launch a home-based business or even a small "side hustle."

MY SISTER HAS ME AFRAID TO GO THERE NOW

DR. WALLACE: How bad does a restaurant have to be to get shut down by the inspectors? My older sister told us this past Saturday night at our family dinner that she recommended we all stay away from a certain restaurant that's fairly popular in our town. She said that the health inspectors had given it a very poor grade and that she's heard that it will likely be shut down soon. Why would this happen? Now I'm afraid to ever go there again, even if they don't get shut down. — Her Youngest Sister, via email

HER YOUNGEST SISTER: A health inspector will immediately close a restaurant if there is no running water on the premises or if the sewage becomes backed up for any reason. A closure could also be tied to a vermin infestation.

Vermin closures usually require at least a 48-hour permit suspension. And restaurant operators who fail to fix violations can have their permit suspended for a period of time or even revoked permanently.

It makes sense for restaurants to do their utmost to not face a closure for any reason as their reputation suffers damage and this often correlates with a drop in business volume in the short term and often over the long run as well.

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: Jordan Whitt at Unsplash