Jesse - I say you put a few of the things you would want on the registry on your Christmas list. seriously.

Yeah, I just don't trust my family to follow directions (the flatware I'm not crazy about came from my grandmother in the first place! and my plates etc. I think I got from you!). But yeah, I am.

do you use online wishlists? I swear kaboodle is a great thing.

when you all talk about 401(k) contributions, are you all putting in the max each year? I can't seem to manage that - ever.

Right now, since I trying to pay down my debt, I am just putting up enough to get the full match at work (i.e., 6%, which gives me a match of 4.5%). Free money, etc. Even once I can save more though, I'll probably keep my 401K where it is and do the rest as a Roth.

FWIW, Dave Ramsey's baby step 4 (I think it's 4) is 15% towards retirement.

do you use online wishlists?

I would, but I'm literally the only member of my family who would, as far as I know. I've made amazon wishlists that no one looked at in the past. Eh.

I am a greedy pig.

No one ever buys me anything from wishlists.

My mother paid attention to my wishlist last year (I got a vacuum, and IWFG!), but I doubt that will happen this year.

Also, SailAweigh bought me an awesome birthday gift from it, too!

I mostly use it to keep track of stuff I want to buy.

Jesse, I made a Christmas list using del.icio.us this year - so you can bookmark the exact stuff you want and email the list to people. You could also set up a registry at Macy's or something - most places don't require you to actually prove you're engaged. After all, it's in their benefit to encourage people to spend. I am encouraging Nutty to do this, and start amassing china and stuff, but she can't be arsed to pick a pattern.

msbelle: no cellphones; no cable; pack lunches for work every single day; eat out once a week tops; don't eat much meat (use it as a flavor, not an entree); don't drink alcohol; buy it used or on clearance or do without or borrow it; for clothes, have a few quality things instead of many cheap trendy things; don't get caught up in competitive stuff (this goes for anything from kids' activities to clothes to going out for dinner with richer friends to family gifts); find cheap splurges if you like presents to make yourself feel good (like a $5 bar of fancy soap, or new nail polish). Was that 10? I find it funny that I am so cheap, since I actually have very expensive tastes and consider myself something of a brand whore.

I told my mom I want a smaller rolly suitcase, so I bet I get that, but otherwise, all bets are off. Which is fine -- I generally get good stuff from people, and try to do the same.

Jesse, I made a Christmas list using del.icio.us this year - so you can bookmark the exact stuff you want and email the list to people.

It's just so far away from my family culture! Meh. I'm a grownup. I can handle it.

I get the family culture problem. My mother bought her own silver (married in 1970 with no registry, didn't inherit any) a few pieces at a time as present to herself over many years.