Ask Amy: Should you check prices before ordering at restaurants?

A man who loves to dine out and seeks value in whatever he purchases is annoyed that his wife orders expensive meals without checking prices. The columnist suggests that he cede some control and include his wife as a partner in household decision-making. In another letter, a retiree wonders if she did something wrong by sending old letters to friends and family, while a newlywed is advised to stand her ground with her mother-in-law.