| A slightly gramatically incorrect variation on "you pay your nickel and you take your chances," typically said with a slight accent.
It's part of a philosophy of personal responsibility, in which you acknowledge the risks that you take in your life, and accept responsibility for them.
Wrecked your lawnmower trying to trim your hedges? Well, you paid your nickel and you took your chances, and you lost. Too bad. Your wife left you when she found out you were sleeping with your secretary? Sucks for you, but, hey! you paid your nickel and you took your chances.
See Also: Nobody's fault but your own | 
