::snip, snip::

Hi, my name is Ashley, and I have quite a bit of debt.

(Hi, Ashley.)

Earlier this week, I took a big step and got myself a debt counselor. She's great and we have a good plan to get me debt-free now. I feel good.

The thought of cutting up all of my credit cards makes my feelings less good, bordering on bad. I cut up my cards a few years ago. There are pictures. I am wearing a red tee shirt and pouting. Clearly, that cutting ceremony was all for not.

But I'm going to do it. Probably this weekend. I will sit on my couch alone with my scissors and likely shed a tear or two that my days of trying new fab moisturizers and anti-fade shampoos is over. At least until I can increase my income -- by a raise at work, prostitution, marrying well, or some combination of those.

Being on a tight budget also means that I have to find something new to do with any downtime at work. No more tooling the beauty and shopping blogs for cool stuff. Today, I followed my normal ritual and found this, which I now totally covet. But, even at half price, it's no-dice. I hate you, Visa! And your little friends Mastercard, American Express and Discover, too!

(Of course, should anyone be looking to buy me a "gee, I think you're wonderful and you deserve a nice surprise" gift, that's a great suggestion. I also need a new wallet.)