Today I bought a Yamaha Vino. That's right, five days into a four-month long vow to spend as little money as possible, I bought a shiny little red scooter.

Oh, but let me explain: As any of my friends -- and half the customers at my Starbucks -- know, I don't have a car. I haven't for a little over three years. The decision to get rid of my trusty Saturn came in the middle of a restless night. It was crazy. It was ill-planned. Everyone (literally, everyone) I asked thought it was a bad idea. It turned out to be one of my best decisions. (Come to think of it, that same description fits this Cheap Women contest, too.)

Year one, I walked everywhere. I lived within a few blocks of work and a grocery store. Year two, I moved farther away, outside the limits of my own two feet (and the Birmingham City Transit Authority, apparently). That's when I bought my Vespa. For Vespa nuts: It's an ET2 with a 50cc engine and a beautiful pearl paint job. For everyone else: It's a really pretty scooter.

A couple weeks ago, my Vespa just stopped running. I don't know what's wrong with it. The repair shop has had it for almost a month and they don't know what's wrong with it. I haven't given up hope that the problem's fixable, but I can't go another month without a vehicle. A friend and former co-worker wanted to get rid of her barely ridden Vino and was willing to sell it for far below market value. The price was good, I trust her, and I need something to ride.

I'm relieved to have transport, and I know I'm lucky. The Vino runs well, if a little slower than my Vespa, and is pretty cute. It'll do the job, but it feels insubstancial. I'm kind of bummed, and I miss my little pearl.

But it does feel nice to have made a good financial decision. Hopefully, I'll be able to sell my Vespa to close to what I paid for the Vino. I'll have a new vehicle and I won't be any farther in debt. And with overdraft notices filling my mailbox, I think that's the best I can ask for.