to trudge along: self-imposed poverty update #3

you know what would make me feel better right now?

red velvet ice cream . . . like the kind i had in nashville.

and sun. i like the sun.

things i've said "no" to:

soy chai latte on a rainy day- oh, it was painful!

a mini-almost-all-expenses-paid trip down south

a realllly pretty dress on sale

a hair touch up--- i'll look like cousin it 'til april

eating out with mom after a long saturday of errands when we were both starving

and didn't want to cook

~~~

things i've said "yes" to:

a $7.95 copy of jane eyre . . . that's not too much of a splurge, is it?

more car repairs. isn't life grand?

~~~

self-imposed poverty is not fun,

but it will be once i start seeing a dent!

i'm quickly learning that loan pay-off is slow and a battle of willpower

and a test of ignoring distractions.

for instance, on sunday,

i thought i lost my cell phone.

holy moses,

have you ever gone one day without the safety net that is your cell phone?!

i thought i might die.

went to church after work on monday since,

wow, maybe i left it on a chair during worship?

nope.

but lo and behold, it appeared as i got back into my car after the failed search and rescue . . .

just the corner of it's flat little body peeking out from under a floor rug.

phew/hurray!

{i probably would have lost to the temptation to splurge on an iphone 4 . . . }

but, as luck would have it, my check engine light

came on just as i turned the car on to leave!

called the dealership,

had the heap assessed and BOOM a sensor had worn out.

and the stinkin' thing doesn't know how much

fuel it needs without it.

crumbs.

did't i just do this???

anyway, 300+ dollars later,

and the stinkin' light came on again yesterday.

believe me,

this unhappy camper is paying a visit to the mechanic that will go something like this,

"fix the entire thing for free and refund all my money or else. the end."

i will try very very very hard to say all of this with the love of

Jesus in my heart.

it's a bummer to save money to pay extra loans only to

watch it all go down the tubes for something else.

but i am still determined to do this! . . .

it may just take me longer. and i may need a second job.

phooey.

{via mr. wonderful's tumblr.}