For some reason, I never feel like I can hold onto money for very long. I have two part-time jobs, which is kinda hard to hold down as a high school student: one in a bakery, and the other in a coffee shop. I get regular paychecks, and my parents have helped me along the way, opening two high-interest savings accounts as I grew older. When I get a check, I put half of the money in the bank and 10% goes to the offering at church, and then I keep the half or so that’s left.

You might thnk that I have no money left after this, but I usually have a decent amount. But I am TERRIBLE at keeping the money in my wallet!! It seems to disappear between buying books, coffee, music, and clothes, plus paying for trips and movies, etc. I most recently spent money on a new digital camera (soon to be delivered by the UPS guy), and a passport for a trip to Africa (WAYY expensive!!). And now, I am completely broke!!!!

I am a firm believer in the saying that what you spend your money on shows what you care about. And every day, as my money goes into the hands of various shopkeepers, mega-corporations, and the US government, I feel like little bits of me are going too…my spending habits suggest that my loyalties lie with Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, GAP, and Apple. And as each day passes, I am more and more aware of the fact that I am trading my spending power for meaningless possesions…and that scares me.

So my resolution: keep my money until I find worthwhile things to do with it…donating, using it to serve others with generosity, something new and helpful :)