Dear Nat: I live alone, and my parents pay my rent. I want to move in with a friend without telling my parents and pocket the difference between the old rent and the new rent. Am I headed straight for moral hell?

— Weaseling for cash
Dear Weaseling: As soon as you start this sly plan, your morality will be skittering around in a hot frying pan.
And as soon as your parents find out, it’s gonna jump straight from the frying pan into the fire.
How would you feel if you gave a friend money for a concert ticket and it turned out to be half price, but they kept the rest of your money? A little cheated, perhaps. Is that how you want to make your kind of financial supporters feel?
Tell your parents that you want to share a place with someone and ask if they can give you extra spending money, since they are willing to pay for a higher rent anyway. The one who pays should decide where the money goes, so leave it up to them. If you still need more cash, look into getting a part-time job.
Leaving the nest is difficult, especially when you still have one wing stuck on a twig. You don’t live with your parents anymore, but they pay your bills, which unfortunately gives them some control over your life. The best thing is to enjoy the luxury of knowing your rent will be paid, because soon you’ll be scrummaging to come up with the funds yourself.
Dear Nat: I’ve met a guy whom I really like and connect with, but I don’t think I’m ready for a serious relationship right now. What should I do?

— Afraid of commitment

Dear Afraid: Well, frazzled girl, perhaps you should take time to sort out what you truly want from what you think society wants for you. In your eyes, folks in the 18-25 age range seem to resemble a bunch of green pods, each filled with two peas and prancing around in a lovesick heaven. Why be a part of this fairy tale veggie spectrum if it’s not who you are? You stated how you feel — that you’re not ready for a serious relationship — so that is precisely what you should avoid.
Lucky for you, most college-age men are not ready for a commitment either. If your guy is one of the common type, enjoy a laid-back relationship. Chill with him to your heart’s content, but feel free to join the girls for man-hunting nights and kiss that cutie at your favorite frat house. On the other hand, if your newly-found catch wants you and only you, fess up that you’re not quite ready. Then venture out to seek your own fun-loving kind, ’cause honey, there are plenty out there.
Take all the time you need to sow your wild oats. You may eventually discover that one boy is enough to give you everything you need. Everyone is different, so don’t settle down unless you truly feel ready. Whether you find yourself in a singles bar or a wedding gown shop in five years, being happy there is the most important thing.
Dear Nat: Why do people adhere to the standard of monogamy? I mean, what’s the deal with that?

— Baffled
Dear Baffled: Take a good look in the mirror. Do you see fins, feathers or fur? No, you see flesh,
because you are human, and
humans have emotions. So if you can’t deal with monogamy, I sure hope you come back as a rabbit in your next life.