I have a problem with a broken Christmas promise. My girlfriend and I agreed that since money was tight, we would not buy gifts for each other. We would purchase gifts for family. Children, parents, siblings. But we would only buy for others. Not for us. Then my girlfriend bought me an iPod Touch. While I certainly love the gift I feel that I should now buy her something, even though she insists that I do not. I'm thinking that since the agreement was broken (granted with love) I have the right to purchase her a gift. (With love) But OTOH, would that be loving, or tit for tat? Am I overthinking this? Is it a given that I get her a gift? Or should I just accept my gift and leave it alone, and in my mind maybe be missing some signal of some sort? While money is tight, it isn't so bad that I couldn't get her something. It doesn't have to be the same amount, but I'd feel like crap if I didn't get her a gift now. Help!
posted by Splunge on Dec 25, 2009 - 51 answers

Help me say, nicely, "Please don't touch my child". [more inside]
posted by lottie on Oct 1, 2009 - 54 answers

A charity gave me $1,000 USD they raised for me after a drunk driver wiped me and my motorcycle out. I am 56 yrs. old, sick from cancer and will be losing my job in December. I have little savings and will have to work at whatever my body lets me do, and probably lose my health insurance. I plan on selling my home and its contents and downsizing to a studio apartment. I have no credit card debt but hold two mortgages, both will be a wash at the sale. What is the best bang for my buck for this $1000 in this economy? A CD? Online savings account? Any suggestions?
posted by ~Sushma~ on Sep 15, 2009 - 14 answers

Prior to a few short camping breaks this summer I'm looking to purchase a camping portaloo - more for my wife's benefit you understand! Any advice on models/makes etc and how much chemical stock I need. Also how user friendly are they?, if you know what I mean...
posted by cameronfromedinburgh on May 31, 2009 - 2 answers

What are some awesome Twitter feeds - cool people or information I need to know? [more inside]
posted by l33tpolicywonk on Nov 3, 2008 - 15 answers

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." British personal finance blogs, forums and other resources? [more inside]
posted by Happy Dave on Feb 15, 2008 - 6 answers

Many adjectives used to describe overweight men in a nonoffensive manner can also be used to describe muscular men (i.e. stout, beefy, etc.). What are some adjectives that describe, with a positive or neutral connotation, the state of being both male and overweight, but that are not used (or at least not commonly used) to describe muscular men as well? [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Oct 10, 2007 - 52 answers