Stress and Money: They Come and They Go

An hour later...

Suddenly, while I'm focused on doing the best job I can, and whistling while I work, I get a call that I don't want... My ex-husband, telling me that the kids are being refused from day care unless I go over and make a payment.

So I did.

Argh.

I don't have money for this. Yes, I got paid today and have money in my bank account to cover the check I had to write, but that severely impacts the other bills I have to pay. Rent (for February!), car insurance, food, gas for the car... Sigh... I NEED to find something else.

To top it off, the IRS website is no longer telling me the status of my (hefty) tax return. The site I used to file said I could receive my funds in as soon as 10 days. Today is day 10. So why, today, is the status of my return no longer showing up? Is my payment in process? Is it not coming? I'm not a fan of uncertainty.

And to say the least, I'm stressed.

Majorly, agonizingly, stressed.

I know what I need to do, but why is it so hard sometimes? Being a Christian I know I need to put my Faith in God to provide what I need, but I feel like I should be doing more.

Day 226

Monday got my week off to a bumpy start but Tuesday seems to be starting much better.  The boys even got up before me this morning and were ready to leave for daycare by 7:30, which...  Got me to work EARLY!

This morning Dave sent me a quote request he got at his new job.  A customer requested multiples of certain items, and while my first response was "Oh my goodness!", at second glance I couldn't help but notice that the customer wrote (s)he "needed" a quote for these items.  It never ceases to amaze me what people think they need.  And when I think about it, "Need" is really such a strong word.  Think about it.  What do you REALLY need?  Food?  Water?  Clothing or some variation of?  And some type of shelter?  But isn't that it?

DH used to say "I need a #1..." when we went through the McDonalds drive through, and I found it obnoxious then.  I think now I realize that people saying "I need..." is one of my few pet peeves.  I challenge you, from here on out, to listen to yourself when you're asking for something.  Are you polite?  Do you say "please" and "thank you"?  Try it.  You might surprise yourself.