NoSpenduary

As you know, I've set this month aside to NOT spend any money. 

You may remember that I also mentioned that my laptop was on it's last legs.

Those two forces met and combined into a wonderful, combustible mess last week.  The laptop is dead, and I'm not spending any money.  The result?  I'm writing this on a Chrome Book that I borrowed from the library.  It's a nifty little laptop that really gets the job done!  I happen to have 4 days in a row off of work, so I'm uploading a LOT of posts today that I've written the old fashioned way - with pen and paper - and will be setting them to automatically release over the next week or so.

Speaking of Chrome Books... my library loans them out for a week at a time.  7 days.  FREE.  Talk about a bargain!  This would be a game changer for anyone who doesn't have the means to buy a computer of their own.  The ability to search for jobs, apply for jobs, take classes... all things that those of us who have regular internet access take for granted.  I'm curious - does anyone else know what devices their local library lends? 

AND - in the wonderful world of electronics all breaking spontaneously - my iPod Shuffle (circa 2008) has finally died.  I had hoped to run it to the Apple store yesterday and see if they actually carried batteries for the thing - but now I can't find it.  I'm in a bit of a quandry here, as I'm going to need to have some music loaded on a device soon.  What am I going to do??  Stay tuned for what is certain to be a Series of Unfortunate Events.

AND- My Kindle.  Second generation Kindle, BTW.  I love that thing.  I've used it almost constantly.  It's no longer functioning.  Again, I've got an event coming up soon and I'd really like to have my Kindle on hand.  Damn it all!  This is no Spenduary!  What am I going to do!  I know, I know #FirstWorldProblems.  20 years ago, I didn't need or have a Kindle, a Laptop, or an iPod.  I've gone soft over the last 20 years!  Our library quit carrying Kindles last year - and it would have been loaded with someone else's choice of literature - not mine. 

Oh, oh, oh, one more whine and bitch here - we have baseboard heaters in our house.  Very inefficient way to heat a house, but it's what we have.  I've been replacing them as I get the money saved up.  With parts and labor from a qualified electrician, replacing each heater runs around $750.  We've replaced 3 in the house so far, out of 9.  Guess how many have died in the last week?  No, not the last 6 (thank God for small mercies).  Only 3.  I'm glad we have a wood stove and that it's been a mild winter so far.  I'd like to hold out and replace them over the summer, before next fall rolls around.  I've got my fingers crossed.

So, are we actually saving any money this month? Well, I haven't put out close to $2000 to replace the electronics or the next $2000 to replace the heaters....  That's $4,000 I need to save up - PLUS the money to replace the roof, as well as (hopefully) paying off the Civic this year.....  I'm beginning to have my doubts that any of this is actually going to happen in the way I think it will.

As I sit here in a Starbucks, tapping into their WiFi, nursing a $4 drink that I bought with a gift card I got for the holidays, I am counting my blessings.  In spite of everything, I have a wonderful family, a roof over my head (that doesn't leak), plumbing that works, and wonderful people to work with.  I'm looking forward to knocking an item off of my Bucket List soon...  So yes, in spite of the inconvenience of luxuries not working the way I want, life is very good.