I was sitting in front of my accountant on January 3rd. (Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.)

The move was brought about by our unprecedented need for financial aid (from institutions of higher learning in New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island). I digress.

Our conversation turned to the issue of managing tax documents; which inspire the question, How do you manage your documents for easy access at tax time?

I am the first to admit that our family has, in the past, fallen into the “obscene-number-of-gifts-with-no-apparant-budget” category.

(We actually buy a few things for the kids, too.)

I’m kinda interested, though; what’s a reasonable budget for holiday spending?

This week we discussed the paper delivery method for obtaining a tip: the inclusion, in some cases, of a self addressed envelope. (Which does make showing your gratitude just that much easier!)

Susannah Bailin advocated tipping anyone who can help you when problems arise.

How about you – who should you tip at the holidays, and how much?

Please let us know in the Comments…

Randye Kaye brought up the topic of “choice paralysis” this week – the feeling of being overwhelmed by the seemingly endless number options we’re presented with on a daily basis.

Randye’s example: “I used to go buy shampoo. Now I go in the supermarket … I’m looking all the way to the left and I’m looking all the way to the right, and it ‘s for curly hair, color-treated hair, not really color-treated hair … and I don’t buy anything.

So, here’s the question we’re crowdsourcing: how do you deal with “choice paralysis” when deciding which products to buy?

A story from Gary Choronzy during this week’s pitch meeting involved his frustration with cell phone and cable companies – and this evolved into a conversation about how tough it can be to get good customer service from any company.

The recurring theme was how difficult it’s become to speak directly with a decision maker, particularly where large companies are involved. Harlan Brothers sees it through the eyes of the mathematician:  ”these companies … have calculated what the tradeoff is”.

SO… what is your secret for receiving good customer advice?

When you’re single, you don’t need much money. You need a place to live, a nice TV, and hopefully some cash left over for a social life.

If the social life works out, you get married. Then there’s the mortgage, and the baby, and the minivan, and before you know it, the lessons and the private school, and you have no money whatsoever. (Add “The Great Recession” to the mix and you’ve got a real party.)

What are the most effective ways you’ve discovered to cut back on your spending? Clipping coupons? Fewer meals out? Rethinking that scuba diving trip to the Maldives? Please let us know in the Comments section…

I know this is going to make me sound old, but I can’t believe how expensive something as simple as going to the movies has become. With popcorn, candy and soda, a family of four can easily run up a tab in the hundred dollar range. I’m sorry, but when I spend a hundred bucks, I need to have something tangible to show for it. (Like a hangover.)

Here’s another one: golf. When you add up the greens fees, cart, and in my case, lost balls and damaged clubs, it can also be a short trip into into that territory north of the dreaded a c-note. call me crazy, but shouldn’t frustration be free?

So, how about you: where do you find fun “on the cheap”?