If one thing is for sure, it's that not everyone is going to like us. Some people will find us annoying. Others will deem us rude. Still others will think we're conceited, messy, obnoxious, dumb, stingy, or lazy. And it doesn't really matter whether any of these labels have merit or are entirely baseless. All that matters is how we're perceived. Perception is, in fact, reality in the eyes of those who may not know us all that well. If not a single person has a beef with you -- if you feel everyone you know holds you in high esteem -- it boils down to one of two things: (1) They're lying. (2) You're in denial, or in the dark. Someone in our circle -- whomever it may be -- takes issue with something about us, whether it be our religious or political beliefs, our weight, our choice of partner or career, our hobbies, our favorite foods, and so forth. Granted, someone can like you and, say, still clash with you when it comes to politics. But to say th...

It annoys me to no end when a person has money and yet he still chooses to be stingy. You know, the kind of person who never gets you a gift on your birthday, or always opts for the cheapest restaurants in town. One thing is to not spend because you really are strapped for cash, or you're trying to save up for a big life event -- like a wedding or the purchase of a car. Another is to be thrifty just because you'd rather have a root canal done on you than shell out a buck. The worst offenders are those who have a lot of money but never donate a cent to charity. I think people have every right to spend their money as they wish, but there's something to be said for those who use it for good causes. What's the harm in getting a friend a small birthday gift? Or donating $2 to St. Jude? People who refuse to spend even this much get under my skin. I could never date a woman or have as a friend someone who seems to care more about their money than their loved on...

What would you do if someone gave you a cheap gift ?  With Christmas just a few weeks away, people are hitting the malls in full force, snagging everything from clothing to electronics. For some people, their holiday shopping list includes a few less expensive items they may plan to give to acquaintances or people they don't know all too well, like their kids' teachers, the cleaning lady at work, and so on. But sometimes we receive what we'd consider cheap gifts even from friends or relatives. This especially throws us for a loop when we've always given the other person higher-quality stuff. Would you feel the gift is a reflection of how much (or little) that individual values you? The first thing one has to determine is whether the person is strapped for cash. If he or she bought you something cheap because they really can't do any better at this time, then it's understandable. Most of us would probably do the same if we were in their shoes. The mere ...