The Meaning of Fat Tuesday
Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, is the day before Ash Wednesday. I’m not a historian, but I think Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, which runs until Easter. Lent is treated as a season of prayer, abstinence, and fasting. It’s modeled after the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. Therefore, today (Fat Tuesday) has become the day when people get all of the overindulgence out of their system. Live it up one last time, if you will.
Enough is Enough!
I’ve unofficially declared today the end of excessive spending for Mrs. PT and I. Since we bought our new home last fall we’ve been spending more than we’d like on furnishing the home and making it well, …a home! We also splurged a bit during the holidays on gifts for others and ourselves. While we haven’t incurred more debt, we’ve been unable to pay off as much old debt as we’d of liked. So I’m saying ‘enough’! It’s time to abstain from our spending for a while. Are you on the same float? :) Would you like to spend less from now on?
Tips to Avoid Excessive Spending
Besides prayers for contentment, here are some things we (and you) can do during Lent (or anytime) to help abstain from excess spending:
- Turn off the TV and hide the magazines to avoid the tempting advertising.
- Take your credit/debit cards out of your wallet and place them in your home safe for a while.
- Find entertainment from the things you already have (e.g. old movies or board/card games).
- Have a “clean the cupboard” meals-only week (i.e. eat at at home till the cupboard is bare).
- Spend more time reading or blogging.
- Go to the park instead of the mall.
- Go to the library instead of the bookstore.
Got any other tips? Please share them in the comments below.
Photo: by tibbygirl
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