MY time in university may have expanded my vocabulary, but it also taught me at least five synonyms for one cold, cruel word that many of us think about on a daily basis - Debt.

Fortunately, university took a lot less out of me than others I know. I have friends who will consider themselves lucky to have their student loans paid off before their kids start applying for the same financial aid. And even if you don't owe a cent for your education, chances are you owe some amount of money to someone, somewhere.

Once upon a time people took a practical approach to debt. They worked out payment plans, put money aside and slowly dug their way out. Today? They get a web site. If you can't or don't want to take responsibility for your debt, just ask someone else to do so for you.

That's what Karyn's doing over at www.savekaryn.com, and, according to her, it's working. When Karyn started her site, she had a $20 000 credit card bill, a poor excuse for her predicament, and a stomach full of the pride any person would have to swallow to ask strangers to pay their way.

As Karyn explains on her site: "Over the last few years I've run up quite a credit card bill... let me tell YOU! $20 221,40 to be exact. Maybe it was too many morning lattes that pushed me over the edge, maybe it was the Prada pumps that I bought on eBay (They were only $100 - a STEAL!) Who knows! My debt just got larger and larger, and here I am today with a huge monthly payment."

I have a feeling that Karyn's made a few other purchases in there to bump the total up to a whopping $20 000, but she's not telling. Instead she's asking. For cash. And people are actually sending it in.

If the stats on her site are to be believed, she's had $11 261,17 sent to her since June 23. More money than most people made working the 9 to 5 daily grind during the same period. She's also had a ton of free things sent to her, ranging from tickets to the New York Yankees to lottery tickets to free date coupons with a guy named Dave (I swear it wasn't me).

Be sure to check out her email section for feedback which runs the gamut from the sympathetic who have sent her money, the outraged who criticise her "female" ways, to the unsatisfied who want to see some nudity before they fork over cash.

But the cyber begging doesn't stop there - have a look at http://egomania.nu/causes/indexsoc.html, something site owner Princess Natalie calls The Society to Prevent My Employment. The Princess unabashedly asks for money so she can relax and take care of her manicure, her feet and, of course, her web site.

There's a surprisingly small amount of content on the site - it basically exists to tell you where you can send your hard-earned money. And what does that money earn you? Well, the permission to tell people you know The Princess, the satisfaction of keeping her in the lifestyle she's accustomed to, and a cheesy form letter thanking you for the cash. Sounds like a fair trade to me.

And, if you have any money left, there's always the B. Fatt & Lazy Scam at www.bfatt-lazy.com/scam/. This verbally abusive site encourages you to "cough up the cash, don't ask too many questions, and everything will be fine". All the money you send to B. Fatt and Lazy will be used to purchase "either alcohol, drugs, or pornography, depending upon our needs at the time of arrival. Your donations are not tax-deductible, so please don't tell the government about this."

The site is no less shameless than the others, but manages at the very least to bring some humour to a pathetic situation. According to their reward system, sending in $1 gets you an email with an inspirational message or poem. Sending $20 gets you a personalised letter from B. Fatt or Lazy describing a terrible, personal secret. For $100? An awkward, 30-second phone call from B. Fatt or Lazy thanking you for your contribution and a quick discussion on whatever topic you wish.

Say what you want about sites like this, it's already brought in almost $800. I know my friends over at MasterCard would love to see that kind of money coming their way. You know, if anybody wants to help me out...