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When I started the Dirty money blog, I didn't have a money shrine.  I didn't work any money magic, because it all seemed self-referential spellwork to make more money.  I didn't give much away, and I knew nothing of the mystery of the rubber duckie.

More than a year later,my relationship with money has grown.  A lot of that comes from a really excellent money class given by Galina Krasskova, which reawakened the animist in me and helped me connect with money on a spiritual level, while simultaneously reinforcing the rules of how money acts, and how people act around it.  I don't know if she will ever give that class again, but if she does, jump on it, because the information is enough to transform that money relationship.  This is one of those cases where the money spent will return to you many times.

I am proud to say that I have now officially saved $1,378 dollars, fulfilling my pledge as part of the Pagan savings challenge.  Yes, I am proud, and I am also amazed that I actually pulled it off!  The fact that it has become more difficult in recent weeks tells me I found the right savings point for my own situation.  Did you find yours?

One thing -- well, two in concert, really -- that will complicate my release of this pent-up energy (by spending it on a fireplace insert, readers may recall) are these darned small bills.  I opted for using the smallest bills possible because it makes a bigger visual impact for each weekly post about my savings journey, but no one is going to be thrilled with me plunking down over a thousand bucks in ones and twos to buy anything, legal tender or not.  Most people would bring them to the bank to change, but nope, can't do that!  These bills are all marked and entered in the Where's George? site, which means that depositing them in the bank is a no-no.

I just need to take a breath, and say, "Good golly, look at how much I've saved so far!"

My savings thus far:  $1,326, $51 of which I saved today.

This idea about saving in the smallest bill denominations possible is creating interesting complications, like how I'm going to spend this pile of dough at the end.

Which actually leads to more savings than intended, I suspect.

A tower of paper currency leaned up against a burning candle.

Who does that?

The title comes from the fact that my family is presently having cellulose insulation blown into the walls of our home, which causes the sheer amount of money pictured here to seem like it could be used as insulation, and I mean literally, although it works figuratively, as well.

My savings thus far:  $1,176, 49 of which I saved today.

I just finished writing daily hymns to Poseidon for the past month, so I hope readers will forgive a tendency to use oceanic metaphors as I ponder this week in the Pagan savings challenge.  Some economists love the idea that, "a rising tide lifts all boats," although some have questioned whether the sentiment -- which is attributed to President Kennedy, but was actually borrowed by him in turn -- is more grounded in reality, or just a recipe for grounded boats.

With just a few short weeks left, I certainly feel that this tide, crafted of my will, is lifting my boat just fine.  The growing pile of cash I see before me each week is a testament to my will and my relationship with the spirits of money.