I've been treating the Self One-Month Makeover a bit like an Advent calendar, in that I am not looking ahead and have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow. Because of this, I have been wondering when there would be something that I just couldn't do for whatever reason. And today is the first time it's happened.

Day Nine: Put plastic to better use:

When you swipe a Working Assets credit card or make a call using one of its phone plans, the company gives a portion of the cost to nonprofits such as Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders. Learn more about their various donation-linked services at WorkingAssets.com.

Clicking on the link, it basically requires you to change your cell phone provider, your home telephone service or get an additional credit card. Since I believe that fiscal fitness is as important to my mental health as doing good for others, I cannot justify opening another credit card account. I like my wallet to be a lean, mean, fighting machine, quite honestly, and get a rash if I carry a balance on my cards that can't be paid in full at the end of the billing cycle. While I would consider opening a charity card when my airline miles card is up for renewal (because really, I only carry them so that I can upgrade to first class with the extra miles) right now, that's not an option. Likewise, our phone service at home is all tied up, between our cable service and additional business lines for Esteban's home office. And you'll take my away shiny new iPhone when you pry it from my cold dead hand. Don't judge me for that.

So I'm at a standstill with this one. Instead, I'm taking the tip in the spirit in which it was intended, since the money they are raising goes toward lobbying for specific causes; instead today I'm writing my senator, my congressman and also Secretary Rice to voice my distress over the war and also the effect it is having on the economy.

Do you have something that's bothering you this week? Make yourself heard. You can email your senator or your representative and either give them a piece of your mind or encourage them to continue to take the actions and follow the course that you hired them to do. Or you can go higher and hit a few emails to the head honcho himself. Remember: you're their boss, so it's not only your responsibility but also your duty as a citizen to guide them and give feedback. â??Weetabix