My mother called last week to gloat — to tell me she’s already accomplished everything on my list. She also suggested this strategy for getting a clothes line:

Tanya: I cut out this ad for a $5000 high efficiency washer and dryer set. We need this.

Min: What?!? We can’t afford that!

Tanya: Well, I guess we could get this $10 clothesline instead…

I have since accomplished item one on my list, and have convinced Min that a clothesline is a good idea. For the sake of family relations, I will avoid telling you whether or not I implemented my mother’s strategy.