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My Lenten Sacrifice
By Molly's Brother | February 27, 2007
Each year, I brainstorm to try to come up with a good Lenten sacrifice that will go beyond the “giving up chocolate” or “giving up sweets.” You see, I don’t really have a problem with chocolate or sweets, so giving up one, the other, or both isn’t really much of a sacrifice. To align my Lenten sacrifice with my personal moment of self-sacrifice this year, I’ve decided to pull my spending under control. Although developed a little late, I finally decided on a suitable goal for the next forty or so days. (Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent was last Wednesday and my Lenten promise came to me sometime Saturday afternoon.)
This year I have decided not to use plastic to buy anything. No credit cards to cover expense A, no debit card to cover expense B. If I don’t have cash in the pocket, then I won’t buy it.
I’m excited about this prospect and about this practice of self-realization. I think–I hope–that it will allow me to return to some level of direct intention with my spending habits. I fully expect that there will be times when I reach for the wallet and pull out the card. I also fully expect for my internal voice to kick in and silently remind me of my recently articulated exercise in self-discipline.
It should be an interesting few weeks. I look forward to my success, but I also look forward to learning from my moments of momentary failure.
Topics: Personal Finance |
February 28th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Wow, that is a good one! Good luck, let us know how you do.
March 2nd, 2007 at 8:36 pm
To be honest, it’s already been difficult. But I expected it to be. It’s more of an exercise in asking myself the oh-so-important question: Do I really need this?