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I’m pretty sure that Doug and I have unlimited credit available at our disposal.

When you get to be our age, if you’ve managed your financial life reasonably well, you too will be allowed (and encouraged!) to owe everyone and their mother upwards of eleventy gazillion bucks.

Gee. Aren’t we special?

I’ve mentioned that we’re cutting back on hundreds of non-essentials so that we can funnel a ton of funds into Kevin’s last year of college. What I haven’t exactly made clear is we don’t have to do this.

There is NO WAY we have to curtail our “lifestyle” in order to finance his education! We’ve got 0% offers out the wazoo, several more arriving EACH DAY. We could easily—oh, so easily—put the whole amount on a card, putz around with the payments for 12 months, and then transfer the remaining balance (which would be large, if our lifestyle remained intact) to a new 0% offer. Lather, rinse, repeat.

But after a while, it just feels wrong. Not the 0% offers. Not even the lather, rinse, repeat. But the lifestyle. The entitlement mentality.

Don’t misunderstand. I am so grateful for everything God’s given us. Doug owns and operates a successful web design firm (http://www.ngenius.com), and we both love the opportunity to work based from our home.

But this experiment we’ve undertaken to trim expenses, cut fat, plug leaks, and spend more responsibly has really opened our eyes. In the past month, we’ve spent a grand total of $22 on any type of restaurant food—eat-in or take-out. Plus a total of $6 for two separate coffee dates at Panera’s, where the wifi’s free even if nobody knows your name. The enjoyment that we got out of spending that $28 consciously was so much greater than if we’d spent ten times that amount without a second thought.

We feel closer than we’ve felt in a long time. Our shared determination and common goal to stop living so high on the big, fat hog—even though we can—has fired our imaginations until now we’re curious with wondering just what God might have planned for us next.

Sometimes, it’s so much fun to be followers.

Posted by Katy on 07/29/06 at 04:42 PM

Fallible Comments...

Go often enough and the people at Panera WILL know your name. AND they'll come to know that you prefer the skinny straws. They'll even eventually remember that no lid shouldst EVER come between you and the whipped cream on your IC mocha when it's presented to drooling you. (I've heard...) ;)
Posted by jen alves on 07/29/06 at 08:22 PM
katy - it is so encouraging to read of how your are changing your lifestyle - in a culture of entitlements and consumption, how refreshing to read of people who are tired of excess "stuff" and doing something about it. i love it! i just wrote of this issue today and after reading this entry about personal responsibility (or proper stewardship?), i had to add a little plug for your site since you are on the path of living lean. it's awesome, and i encourage you and doug to stay the course! be blessed.
Posted by joshua on 07/30/06 at 02:53 PM
You continue to inspire me.
Posted by Donna on 07/31/06 at 08:20 AM
Jen--Oh-oh! We will hold Panera's down to once or twice per month, and hit different locations. If they ever know my name or my order? I'm OUT of there!! :)

Joshua--What you blogged was cool! Here's something I never imagined: That anyone would every link to me as an example of someone attempting to be a good steward over God's gifts! Thank you.

Donna--Some days, I just make myself tired! So I'm glad to have such a nice effect on someone! You're sweet. :)
Posted by Katy on 08/01/06 at 02:32 PM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	Follow I’m pretty sure that Doug and I have unlimited credit available at our disposal. When you get to be our age, if you’ve managed your financial life reasonably well, you too will be allowed (and encouraged!) to owe everyone and their mother upwards of eleventy gazillion bucks. Gee. Aren’t we special? I’ve mentioned that we’re cutting back on hundreds of non-essentials so that we can funnel a ton of funds into Kevin’s last year of college. What I haven’t exactly made clear is we don’t have to do this. There is NO WAY we have to curtail our “lifestyle” in order to finance his education! We’ve got 0% offers out the wazoo, several more arriving EACH DAY. We could easily—oh, so easily—put the whole amount on a card, putz around with the payments for 12 months, and then transfer the remaining balance (which would be large, if our lifestyle remained intact) to a new 0% offer. Lather, rinse, repeat. But after a while, it just feels wrong. Not the 0% offers. Not even the lather, rinse, repeat. But the lifestyle. The entitlement mentality. Don’t misunderstand. I am so grateful for everything God’s given us. Doug owns and operates a successful web design firm (http://www.ngenius.com), and we both love the opportunity to work based from our home. But this experiment we’ve undertaken to trim expenses, cut fat, plug leaks, and spend more responsibly has really opened our eyes. In the past month, we’ve spent a grand total of $22 on any type of restaurant food—eat-in or take-out. Plus a total of $6 for two separate coffee dates at Panera’s, where the wifi’s free even if nobody knows your name. The enjoyment that we got out of spending that $28 consciously was so much greater than if we’d spent ten times that amount without a second thought. We feel closer than we’ve felt in a long time. Our shared determination and common goal to stop living so high on the big, fat hog—even though we can—has fired our imaginations until now we’re curious with wondering just what God might have planned for us next. Sometimes, it’s so much fun to be followers. Posted by Katy on 07/29/06 at 04:42 PM Fallible Comments... Go often enough and the people at Panera WILL know your name. AND they'll come to know that you prefer the skinny straws. They'll even eventually remember that no lid shouldst EVER come between you and the whipped cream on your IC mocha when it's presented to drooling you. (I've heard...) ;) Posted by jen alves on 07/29/06 at 08:22 PM katy - it is so encouraging to read of how your are changing your lifestyle - in a culture of entitlements and consumption, how refreshing to read of people who are tired of excess "stuff" and doing something about it. i love it! i just wrote of this issue today and after reading this entry about personal responsibility (or proper stewardship?), i had to add a little plug for your site since you are on the path of living lean. it's awesome, and i encourage you and doug to stay the course! be blessed. Posted by joshua on 07/30/06 at 02:53 PM You continue to inspire me. Posted by Donna on 07/31/06 at 08:20 AM Jen--Oh-oh! We will hold Panera's down to once or twice per month, and hit different locations. If they ever know my name or my order? I'm OUT of there!! :) Joshua--What you blogged was cool! Here's something I never imagined: That anyone would every link to me as an example of someone attempting to be a good steward over God's gifts! Thank you. Donna--Some days, I just make myself tired! So I'm glad to have such a nice effect on someone! You're sweet. :) Posted by Katy on 08/01/06 at 02:32 PM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: Targeted Observation Previous entry: Bejeebers << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri