The Money Diet: week 7, and back on track

I'm going to begin with a story.

Yesterday morning, I got a glimpse into why it's important to try to lose weight. My 8-year-old daughter was about to board her school bus and realized her homework was in her school bag, back at our house. And so I told her how sorry I was, but that she'd have to just do without it. Then I quickly felt like a jerk because her voice quivered and she started to get teary- eyed.

Knowing the school bus would be in our neighborhood for another several minutes, picking up other kids, I asked if I could meet the bus on another street. The bus driver agreed.