Harriette Cole: Now that she has money, my friend is a snob

Our old favorite places are now beneath her.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am watching my friend become a snob right before my eyes.

She is earning significantly more money than she did last year, and it has turned her into a completely different person. We had favorite bars, restaurants and retail stores that we used to frequent, and now she acts like all of those places are beneath her.

I am worried that I’ve lost my friend. What should I do?

Who Are You?

DEAR WHO ARE YOU? Invite your friend to get together in a quiet place, perhaps in your home.

Tell her you want to talk to her. Let her know how proud you are of her accomplishments this year.

Add that you are beginning to be concerned because she seems to have walked away entirely from the social life that you two once enjoyed together. While it is fun to explore new places, you have noticed that she now wants to go to fancy locales only, and worse, she speaks negatively about the spots you recently called home.

Tell her you miss spending time with her in some of your old haunts. Suggest that you add some of those spots back into your weekend rotation.

Listen to what she has to say. Sure, it’s fun to try out new spots, but if she is set against any allegiance to her former life, you have reason to be worried. You are a part of her past. You will have to decide if you want to fight for your friendship or accept that your friend has turned the page — and you may not be in her next chapter.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a freelancer. Every year around this time, I worry about what jobs I will get next year. Usually, things are slow at the beginning of the year.

I am beginning to worry. I have a couple of clients who are skittish about the economy and who may choose not to engage my services. I have reached out to them to see what their plans are, but nothing is set yet.

I have a little bit of money saved, but not enough for more than a few months. What can I do to calm down and set myself up for success in the midst of uncertainty?

Need Security

DEAR NEED SECURITY: As you wait to hear from your current clients, seek out new ones. Make a list of businesses and individuals who may be interested in your services, and send them pitch letters or pick up the phone and call to see if you can fulfill their needs.

Be aggressive. Research and then call at least five companies each day. Create a script that you can follow so that you can keep your message and energy up, even if you are feeling low or tired. Be prepared to share examples of your work. If you have any testimonials, be sure to include them in your pitching.

You can also create a holiday message that you send to current and prospective clients that will remind them that you are in the game and are thinking of them.

Finally, consider what unrelated part-time work you can take on in case you need a financial pick-me-up at the beginning of the year.

Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.