Lisa Gray wrote:
man i wish we could afford to go out and spend 600 bucks like it's pocket change...

I hope that wasn't directed at me. $600 is never pocket change for me as a grad student. My wife and I had been saving up to buy each other decent Christmas gifts last year and our TV just happened to go out in mid December. We made the decision to pool our saved money (and add a little extra because we were still a bit short) and get one gift that we would both enjoy. I wish it was pocket change...if that was the case I wouldn't be worrying about how to make the truck payment this month...