I don't think much of affluent or even middle-class people artificially impoverishing themselves to qualify for a federal insurance program that was designed for the truly poor, especially if the aim is to preserve an inheritance for adult children.

But I also don't much like the idea of people winding up broke in their old age because of a spouse's nursing-home care.

Did I really choose LensCrafters because I liked the frames best or because my subconscious cheapskate knew I could get a great discount?

Sometimes I sprint through life with a large shopping cart in my own 24/7 reality show. The goal: I try to stuff lots of experiences, merchandise and money into the cart as quickly as possible.

In my mad-dash moments, I forget to enjoy myself. I gulp down the cake, but I don't taste the flavor of the batter or the icing.

Reader Mike went to Target with a bunch of change in his pocket. He didn't feel like using an ATM, and the item he was at Target to purchase cost less than 5 dollars, so he figured he would pay with change. He figured wrong.

The cashier told him Target did not accept "just change," and flatly refused to continue with the transaction.