Finances are tight.

My savings account.
Originally uploaded by Normalcy Overrated.

I am on a quest, a quest of financial freedom. A freedom from debt.
There is just one problem.

I love to shop. Some people eat when they are bored, some people drink or do drugs - I find emotional happiness when I buy something new. A new shirt or a new pair of shoes can sustain me for weeks, but after about 3 weeks, I start itching for a new lipgloss or a new Victoria Secret bra.

I am also in love with home improvement. I have more plans on how to redecorate or renovate my home than Lowe's weekly circular. I am a frequenter on Lowes, Home Depot, and HGTV websites. I love Crate and Barrel, West Elm, and Pottery Barn. I feel the need to change my home once a week to my boyfriend's dismay. The problem is that I never actually do anything because I don't have any money or I change the plan yet again.

So, I am on a path to financial freedom so that I can shop whenever I darn well feel like it. I have the income, but old debt has sucked up all my open resources. So, in order to get on top, I have to do without.

This is proving to be more difficult than I thought it would be. I have resorted to ordering free samples off the internet and entering promotions and sweepstakes at my favorite stores. Its just a sad sad world when you look forward to getting your mail and maybe recieve a sample of Dove shampoo (they have a bunch of free samples on their website).

To see how well I am doing, check out the picture of my savings account. I have a jar like this at home too.