Give Torn Stockings Another Run, And Other Tips for the Frugal

"Now, I'm in love with my husband," she wrote, "I wouldn't have married him if this penny-pinching idea was so awful, but I'm on the edge. I want a real, luxury, non-camping (which we do often, like most Coloradoans), no shared hotel room with my 8-year-old stepson, exotic, tropical or foreign, non-couponed dinner, room-service offered, vacation. Please send help as soon as you can. I'll be here, hoping the next time-share offer gets lost in the mail."

Many penny pinchers extol the value of signing up for time-share promotions just for free accommodations or prizes or both. But some good things can be taken too far.

I'm hoping Hagaman will use his $100 first-place prize to take his wife to any place where she won't have to sit through a time-share presentation. Or maybe I should make the check out to her for time served?

Thanks to all who entered this year's contest. I was in awe.

· On the air: Michelle Singletary appears on Washington Post Radio (107.7 FM, 1500 AM) at 6:20 a.m. Thursdays. She also discusses personal finance Tuesdays on NPR's "Day to Day" program and online athttp://www.npr.org.

· By mail: Readers can write to her at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

· By e-mail:singletarym@washpost.com.

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