I like some of the Dave Ramsey plan -- the $1,000 emergency fund, and the plan of paying off one debt totally and then snowballing it into other payments (the method -- whether by amount or by interest rate -- is up to the debtor; I like to pay off the highest interest rate first, because Bank of America really doesn't need more of my money).

re: White Elephant at work -- one year we did one, and everyone wanted the ugly metal tray with big-eyed cats painted on it. The #2 coveted item was a keychain of a human spine (contributed by yours truly).

With my stepdad's family, we do this card game that involves matching cards, and whoever wins that hand gets to take a gift from a pile of wrapped gifts, all of which are supposed to be $1-$3 ish. Think can o'nuts, 1 lb. Hershey bar (often on sale for $1 at CVS on Xmas Eve, thank you very much), and the unmatched favorite -- a scratch-off lottery ticket. The catch was that the first person to take the scratch-off wasn't allowed to, you know, scratch it. It had to remain a mystery until the end of the game.

Every year I end up with nuts and a pen. Both of which I like just fine, but I think I'm going to up the stakes this year with something nifty, and steal it back for myself.

No, I have no idea what the nifty thing might be. Fortunately, I have time to plan. (Step 3: Profit!)

I'm finally making progress on debt that's been kicking around since my senior year of college, because for the first time ever, I'm making enough money that I can pay cash for everything I want to buy, and still have money left at the end of the month.

Actually, the "everything I want to buy" bit ties into my current problem with Christmas gifts. My family wants to know what I want, and I don't need anything. But most things I have are pretty cheap. BUT, I would want to replace them with super-fancy, if money were no object. Like, I don't want a $10 notebook, I want $150 notebooks. I want $100 towels. And I'm not getting any of those!

So that's why I shop at Target.

He's also against all credit cards.

Although his website accepts them as payment. Embrace the debt-free irony!

Don't get me wrong; I like a lot of what Dave Ramsey says, and I'm trying to decrease my debt with vigor these days (despite my overwhelming lust for a shiny new Macbook with Leopard, yum yum yum). But a good dose of irony always needs to be pointed out, IMO.

I want $100 towels.

What if you get something irrevocably icky on them? I inevitably cut my leg shaving and don't know it until I see the blood on the towel. If I bled on a $100 towel, I might be bound by law to kill myself.

Wow, I can't say I've ever bled on a towel. But I would have to be a person for whom $100 was pocket change before I would have those anyway, so it would be no big deal! (Note: I will never be a person like that.)

I'm thinking about maybe a new computer. It'll probably take me another gazillion months to actually go for it. But 6 or 7 year old laptop with a busted screen. And I can't really upgrade the OS further. Hrm. Maybe I'll see what dad's education discount will get me at the campus store when I'm visiting. I don't *need* a laptop, but I'd like one. We'll see.

Although his website accepts them as payment.

I thought they only did debit cards. But I don't suppose you can make a distinction--it's either all MC/Visa or none.

Jesse, you should work your way up. Ask for nicer-than-Target-but-not-$100 towels this year. Like, $25 towels: [link]

I got nothing on the debt thing. I am fantastically consumer debt-averse, to the tune of never having carried a credit card balance. On the other hand, if anybody wants my top 10 ways to be a cheapskate, I am happy to help.

Actually, in other towel news, I bought some of these for a wedding gift recently, and they are unbelievabley soft and awesome and on sale, and most of my current towels are many years old, so. Hmm. I should tell my grandmother to get me that for Christmas. (Although, she would never take direction that clearly and I'd probably end up with something weird.)

I want to dry my ass on $100 towels.

We're watching Shrek the Halls and boy, is it funny!