DR. WALLACE: You almost always frown on older guys dating teen girls. When I was 26, I met a beautiful young girl who told me that she was 18. Well, we dated for a year before I discovered by error that she was two years younger than I thought she was. But by that time I had fallen in love with her and she with me. We were married on her 18th birthday.

Last week we celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary with our six children and 37 grand and great-grandchildren! And do you know what? We love each other more now than we did the day we became husband and wife.

Do you still think it is unwise for older guys to date much younger girls? — Grandpa, Kansas City, Mo.

GRANDPA: Age difference is only important when one of those involved (usually the girl) is under 18 and still in school and the other is a mature adult. Age difference is not important when both are 17 and over. But there are times when love overcomes all obstacles, even age difference. You and your wife are living examples.

LEARNING TO BUDGET IS IMPORTANT

DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and work 20 hours a week after school and all day Saturday at a gas station and I make pretty good money. Since I'm going steady and have a car, I need all the money I earn just to survive. Both my insurance and my girlfriend are expensive items. My dad says that I should be saving some of my earnings and is now demanding that I put $25 per week into a savings account at a bank. My dad's name is also on the account and no money can be removed unless both of us sign for it at the same time.

I have protested, but my dad refuses to understand that things are expensive and that I need all the cash I can scrape up. I'd like to hear what you have to say about my "forced" savings plan. — Nameless, Tulsa, Okla.

NAMELESS: I feel that an important segment of working and earning money is learning to budget and to save a portion. Therefore, I agree with your father's decision regarding a "forced" savings plan. I also agree that all cars are expensive items, but not necessarily so for girlfriends.

Discuss things with your girlfriend and plan some activities that are fun and don't require a bundle of cash. This is especially important in these "trying" economic times!

HICKEYS SHOULD BE AVOIDED

DR. WALLACE: I'm very aware of what causes a "hickey," but I'm not so sure what happens to cause the hickey to turn purple. No big deal, but I'm really curious and I'd like to know. — Nan, Newark, N.J.

NAN: A hickey is actually a bruise caused by broken blood vessels, and should be avoided.

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. E-mail 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.