The Pink Chicken

I'm prefacing this post by stating the fact.

I am 'unwell'.

That's what my female relatives called it when they were 'menstrual'.

So I've been thinkin' and thinkin'.

And then.

Thinkin'.

Last night I penned

 'Twas the night before me menses and all through me brain - the thoughts they be racin' like a crazy steam train."

I want to talk to you today about something I've begun.

It started with a trickle, and now it's become a mighty force to be reckoned with.

I call it -

Self Imposed Poverty.

Now, before y'all start sending donations to my cause - please rest assured that I have plenty to eat, my bills are paid and I'm warm at times here in this drafty old barn of a house.

Let me explain.

For those new readers that may not know - I lost my job in Sept. of 2009.

Then - Glen's hours were cut almost in half.

It was ok.  We had the house and all other bills paid off.

It was discussed among Glenco and I that I wouldn't go back to work unless it was an absolute neccesity.  We were really enjoying the quality of life we had with me here at home. (translation - nice meals, clean house, clean underwear and a happy wife)

Then - due to some seen and unforeseen circumstances - we had to take out a small home equity loan.

I 'thought' I'd done everything to cut the budget.

I thought I was being all pious and frugal.

I thought.

And then the other night I had this dream, this dream so vivid and real that it's stuck with me still.  I was swimmng in an ocean, and the current was so strong, that I could barely make headway.  I kept ending up at the wrong destination.  I felt exhausted.

Last night, as I was lying awake in bed - thinking about that stinkin' dream - I realize what the current was.

It was the way of life that most of us lead.

Things that have become normal.

The way we spend our money.

The debt we incur.

The comfort level we've been accustomed to.

The things we think we need, or deserve.

Our addictions.

I feel quite compelled to fight the current.

I feel quite compelled to be a 'pink chicken' in a world of yellow ones.



Why do I feel this way, you ask?

Cause as of Feb 9th my Directv is no more (date my contract is up)

I'm cancelling my home phone tomorrow - only because I can't cancel my cellphone until June.

I turn down the thermostat to 60 at night and 65 during the day.

(in this old brick house - you have no idea how cold that feels - although cause I'm active during the day, I'm fine - and I realize I sleep better at 60!)

I have no credit cards.
I budget $50 a week for groceries.

I leave the house twice a week for errands to save on gas.

I cancelled the trash pick up (three months without it - don't miss it - email for more info if you are wondering how I do it)

I renewed no magazine subscriptions this year.

I make my own laundry soap.

I don't eat out.

As of Monday this week - I've decided to stop thrifting until my debt is paid.

I've decided no more yarn until my debt is paid.

If it's not ESSENTIAL to life itself, it shant be purchased.

Until the debt is paid.

Now, last week, I truly believed that thrifting and yarn purchases were indeed essential!

But this is the big one.

Drum roll please.

I'm cancelling my internet service this weekend.

Can we have a moment of silence please?

Thank you.

I'll go to the library once a week for the afternoon and blog - and answer emails.

$40 a month savings.

I know.  It seems so piddly, doesn't it?

It's just $40.

But $40 x 6 months is $240, and that's 4.6% of my debt.

This isn't forever.  It's just for about six months.

That's my best calculations of how long it will take to get completely debt free again.

Then I shall enter the land of milk and honey, and have the internet again, and I'll go on a fabulous tropical vacation.

My friends - if you've experienced the feeling of owing no one anything - you will understand it when I say - there is no other way to live.

I'm sick of spending money needlessly and letting that debt just drag on.

I want it ended, and I want it ended now.

Oh, I could say - Jayme, Jayme - don't be so hardcore!  Keep your internet and your phones and your tv, just pay off your debt in a year or so.

But I want to be a pink chicken.

I have romantic visions of me driving to the library with my laptop in a cute quilted cover, with my lunch packed.

Those romantic visions are often tempered with visions of  me in the corner, sucking my thumb rocking back and forth with my eyes and fingers twitching, trying to form aluminum foil into a wi fi receptor.

Call me crazy - but it's so Dave Ramsey hardcore crazy that I love it!

As I close this blog today, I realize how important you've all become to me - and how much I value your opinion, and even thought I don't want to admit it - I worry some about what you think.

I hope you'll support me in my journey to financial freedom, and perhaps some of you will join me.

I'll be posting regularly about my progress.

It ain't easy being pink.

6:00pm CST update - y'all are the best!  Never fear - my plan was to prepare blogs at home - and then at the library, schedule them to post - a few a week - you ain't gettin' rid of me that easy!!
THANK YOU!  I feel empowered and encouraged.