My spouse and I got a tax refund that came to one month of his take-home pay (I bring home less because I pay for our insurance). But after some thought and some conversation, I made a bold move and used it to pay off two whole credit cards, cutting our total debt down by 18%. It freaked me out a little when I did…

I have 28 — oh, wait, don't need those — 26.

Small Swiss Army knife

"People who smoke cigarettes, they say 'Man, you don't know how hard it is to quit smoking.' Yes, I do — it's as hard as it is to start flossing.'" (M. Hedberg)

Before I go out and buy every kind of tiny basket or box, I go through the drawer and sort it for things that just don't belong there (bag of Q-tips goes to my dopp kit), are completely useless (tube of superglue that dried up a long time ago). Then I try to sort things according to type, function or size, and use a…

In the past six years as a contracted associate, I got two bonuses, in the beginning, before things tanked everywhere. Five percent based on my annual review results. Then that went away, and some years back the company started a vacation buyout bonus so I could earn double-time for a few days rather than just…

Man, I can relate. Until last year I was doing more work at the same position for the same money and watched people who started after me get promoted. Sorry to hear you're in that boat.

If I know that it's going to drop below freezing overnight, I turn off my interior door lights (you know, the overheard ones that turn on when a door's open) and take a canvas shoulder strap from a long-dead piece of luggage and make a simple knot in it, and leave it in the door such that all I have to do in the…

When a waiter or waitress introduces themselves, I use their name and greet them, and offer my nickname (it's rare that anyone will pronounce it right. Thanks, mom). And then I use it to thank them profusely when they're doing a fantastic job. Or, if I'm at a counter getting a service, checking in, or buying…

I worked for a temp agency doing the most godawful accounts-past-due call center gig. I quit when I got an offer to be a project assistant via an IT staffing firm, which eventually led to my analyst job. The temp agency must have been trolling my LinkedIn profile, though, because they called me the day I changed my…

Get my job back, or get a better one. (I'll be able to hit the gym while waiting for a new assignment.)

I am looking at about a month of paid time off while my company tries to find me a new job. In that time, I am going to push myself to exercise every weekday, digitize and shred some files, and take tests for 1 (if not 2) designations.

Most likely it's from someone that I want to nurture a good relationship with, so I tell the truth — I thank them profusely for their gift and admit that I didn't get them anything. Then I do one of two things: (1) email them an e-gift card to Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Amazon or a store I know they'll make use of, or…

"Some people's kids." Mostly said in frustration, but I'm getting better. More reflective lately.

Same reason why some people wanted to download their entire LiveJournal text and print it — so they can look back and see how awesome/lame/drunk they were.

This.

My 3GS fell out of my pocket onto a concrete floor in October. There are chunks of glass missing, but it works just fine and I'm up for a new phone in January.

Once, when living in a foreign country, a series of government protests quickly escalated, and it was even more dangerous to be an American, and I'm pretty sure I was cased for a kidnapping a few times. I made sure to always speak the language when I could, even if it was heavily accented, talking about some very…

I had the tenth anniversary edition of "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman on my Kindle, ready to read. And then I walked in to no line, and was done in 10 minutes.

I still have some older customers who prefer their photos on discs, and I happily provide as long as their checks clear.