The Giving Tree
I've been in the mood to buy something for awhile. You can imagine the pain a shop-a-holic like me is in as I receive a steady paycheck each week but refuse to allow myself to spend it on anything but my credit card or gas. The rest gets tossed into my savings account as I attempt a new concept called "Saving Money". I realize I will feel better about this in April when I pay first and last month's rent plus a security deposit on a NYC apartment. However, right now, it feels like hell.
I have been working steadily for a month and have barely saved anything. We can thank my credit card and my $493 car repairs. That's right folks. $493. It kills me too because I've been eyeing this Vera Bradley bag for quite awhile though I'm still up in the air as to what pattern I want it in.
I told my mother this and she suggested giving the money to the needy. I told her that at 21 almost 22, I cannot toss away money to the church but in a few years, when I am stable, I will do it regularly. She says you are not supposed to give when you can, you are supposed to give until it hurts AND if I had been reading my Scripture, I would know that God promises to take care of me IF I give 10%. (Apparently, God's love is indeed conditional.) I told her I donated to the tsunami relief effort. (It was a measly contribution but it was the best I could do at the time.) She said the Vera bag is not giving til it hurts. The Vera bag makes me spoiled.
I pointed out that I donate clothes and shoes regularly and I have a large garbage bag of relatively new stuffed animals that I'm looking to drop off somewhere. She said nobody wants my dusty old paraphernalia. Does anyone know of anywhere I CAN donate my animals? They are NOT dusty, they are just on the foot of my bed and I would like to give them to children who would appreciate them. Mom says this is NOT giving til it hurts--it is getting rid of old junk.
The Catholic guilt got the better of me and about a 1/2 hour ago, I logged onto the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids website and donated $50. I called my mother to let her know and she said that this was NOT the kind of organization she was talking about. I said that I did not want to give my money to the Catholic Church and I think she was a little upset. She told me the Catholic Church gives to more charities than ANYONE ELSE. Is this true? I need proof.
I don't mind giving money to the Catholic Church so they can pass it on to other places. I DO mind giving money to things like the "Bishop's Annual Appeal" which is, for my lovely non-Catholic friends, a yearly beg from the Bishop for funds. Puh-lease. I do not support the Bishop and I do not support his begging. I figured AIDS was a worthy cause, specifically BC/EFA.
My mother ended the conversation by telling me that $20 would have sufficed and I didn't have to give $50. "10%!!!!!" I screamed into the phone, "YOU TOLD ME 10%!!!!! $20 IS NOT 10% OF MY SALARY, IS IT MOM???" She replied that no, it wasn't and that the $50 was probably the better choice and then hung up the phone.
AND YOU WONDER WHY I'M SO SCREWED UP ABOUT LIFE!?????????????????
Peace.
I have been working steadily for a month and have barely saved anything. We can thank my credit card and my $493 car repairs. That's right folks. $493. It kills me too because I've been eyeing this Vera Bradley bag for quite awhile though I'm still up in the air as to what pattern I want it in.
I told my mother this and she suggested giving the money to the needy. I told her that at 21 almost 22, I cannot toss away money to the church but in a few years, when I am stable, I will do it regularly. She says you are not supposed to give when you can, you are supposed to give until it hurts AND if I had been reading my Scripture, I would know that God promises to take care of me IF I give 10%. (Apparently, God's love is indeed conditional.) I told her I donated to the tsunami relief effort. (It was a measly contribution but it was the best I could do at the time.) She said the Vera bag is not giving til it hurts. The Vera bag makes me spoiled.
I pointed out that I donate clothes and shoes regularly and I have a large garbage bag of relatively new stuffed animals that I'm looking to drop off somewhere. She said nobody wants my dusty old paraphernalia. Does anyone know of anywhere I CAN donate my animals? They are NOT dusty, they are just on the foot of my bed and I would like to give them to children who would appreciate them. Mom says this is NOT giving til it hurts--it is getting rid of old junk.
The Catholic guilt got the better of me and about a 1/2 hour ago, I logged onto the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids website and donated $50. I called my mother to let her know and she said that this was NOT the kind of organization she was talking about. I said that I did not want to give my money to the Catholic Church and I think she was a little upset. She told me the Catholic Church gives to more charities than ANYONE ELSE. Is this true? I need proof.
I don't mind giving money to the Catholic Church so they can pass it on to other places. I DO mind giving money to things like the "Bishop's Annual Appeal" which is, for my lovely non-Catholic friends, a yearly beg from the Bishop for funds. Puh-lease. I do not support the Bishop and I do not support his begging. I figured AIDS was a worthy cause, specifically BC/EFA.
My mother ended the conversation by telling me that $20 would have sufficed and I didn't have to give $50. "10%!!!!!" I screamed into the phone, "YOU TOLD ME 10%!!!!! $20 IS NOT 10% OF MY SALARY, IS IT MOM???" She replied that no, it wasn't and that the $50 was probably the better choice and then hung up the phone.
AND YOU WONDER WHY I'M SO SCREWED UP ABOUT LIFE!?????????????????
Peace.
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