DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have a bad habit of interrupting people. My mom says that every time I interrupt people, I owe her one dollar. I need help and advice.
GENTLE READER: “Listen to your mother” has evidently not worked, which is why she is upping the stakes. Your mother is guessing that eventually the cost of noncompliance will force a change in behavior. Miss Manners’ advice is therefore either to stop interrupting or to stop spending -- so you can pay your mother.