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.

When I first moved up here, I had a set of dishes the family I sat for was getting rid of and mmismatched stuff I'd stolen from home. First time my parents came out here, mom bought me basic flatware,a set of small blue glass bowls and plates at IKEA and green and red glass dinnerplates at Target. I need to get rid of the freebie ugly plates. I love my glass plates. Otherwise, I'm pretty much "oh shit, I need a roasting pan" and pick up a cheap one somewhere. Even my knives suck!

I'm terribly mismatched. I got a set of nice flatware (in a wooden case even!) one year for xmas, but I haven't used it yet.

About the only think I want, household wise, that I don't need are pieces of mexican pottery from an artist/school I adore. I ought to remind the parents of that/pick some more up when I'm visiting. They're hand painted and each unique, so I have to sort through to pick my favorites.

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.

That reminds me! I should ask my younger cousin if she really wants our grandmother's china, because I do! And my grandmother told me it'll go to younger cousin because older cousin and I will each get our mother's.

And Jesse reminds me that my aunt has a coffee service with my name on it. Though what I'll do with a copper or silver (I don't recall which. Grandma had a lot of copper stuff too) coffee service, I don't know. Mom has her wedding china (which I love, it's very simple and classic) and a couple other sets which were her inlaws. Most of the orofor(?) glassware has broken, I think. Grandparents brought it back for them from sweden.

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.

Megan is me. Different percentges, though. But I do contribute up to the maximum of what my employer matches. Once my debt is paid off (which should be by the end of 2008), my plan is that I would max out a Roth IRA before maxing out my 401(k). Then I would max out my 401(k) b/c it's pre-tax.