(WARNING: I have a problem when telling stories...and that is I get a little wordy. It happens if I'm writing a story or verbalizing a story...sometimes the details are important...and sometimes not)
I have two jobs as most of you know. I work full time for Metering Services (and I love it) and then I work part time for Lane Bryant (and I mostly love it)...
A few weeks back we were told at Lane Bryant that they were going to be issuing paycheck cards and that your paychecks would just be depoisted into that rather than given to you in a check form (I sure hope their rationalization for this wasn't to save paper because they still send us a fake checks saying the money was deposited elsewhere) If you didn't want the paycheck card...you needed to sign up for direct deposit. Since I pay my bills and stuff through my checking account and I still rely on some of my Lane Bryant money to cover bills...I got my direct deposit form filled out and turned in promptly.
The next paycheck we recieved was still in paper form. Then, during that week we all recieved the paycheck card...even those who have direct deposit got the card...so I just thought they sent it to everyone. I had turned in my direct deposit a few weeks earlier....so I assumed the next check I got would be going into my checking account.
So I went home to Nauvoo...paid some bills...bought things, just the normal things...and then I come home and pay a few more bills...got paid again at Lane Bryant...got the paper check thing in the mail and I also got a notice from my bank saying I had an overdraft fee...
To make a long story short (since I haven't even gotten to the point of this blog) I had assumed that those two checks would be in my checking account and they weren't...so I bounced...a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff. So...I am very much negative in my checking account right now and I don't get paid till Wednesday (this has been going on for about a week now)...
So needless to say I have been living the frugal life. No grocery shopping...no eating out...no treats...no $1.00 Dr. Peppers from McDonalds...and let me tell you that I think going from having money to having negative money is like quitting Pepsi. I had spending withdrawls. After my first few overdraft notices and I had a little breakdown about how I wasn't going to be able to buy anything for while...all I could think about was shopping. Everything I ever thought I needed was on my brain...new shoes...new work pants...gas...food...new pillowcases...more food...christmas presents...It was all I could think about.
But, I am here to tell you that I made it over the hump. I survived the worst. I am in the clear. I am living the frugal life ... and.... I sort of like it! I brought left overs these past few days at work and I feel a sort of satisfaction as I eat my re-heated lasagna that I am saving myself 6 or 7 dollars a day by eating those leftovers!
And...to top this all off...I have made some new life goals. I decided I wante to have my Chase card, my Old Navy card, my Lane Bryant card and my school loan all paid off by the time I turn 27. And...the only way to do that is to be frugal...but the idea of being free from those debts is worth 1,000 reheated lunches.
Let's just hope this all 'sticks' once I get a couple paychecks in the bank.
I made two delicious things yesterday and I felt that everyone needed the recipe's for them. I can only post one at a time because I don't have the recipe for the soup in front of me...but I do have the one for the Lemon Cream Cake memorized.
