Help, I'm Freaking Out

I'm sure many of you have reached this point at one time or another, but with the economy in the toilet, I'm freaking out.

I got a great deal ($200) on a rolling '71 Scamp two years ago and planned on turning it into my $1500 daily driver. I was going to rebuild the /6, add a couple of minor upgrades and have a fun, dependable car. But how many of us can stick to a budget on our cars?

I decided to send the car out for paint and body work. Business was good and since I work 7 days/wk., I didn't have time to do any of it myself. Then, to add a little punch to the /6, a turbo came to mind, but that would take a lot of customized fabrication that was beyond my knowledge/abilities. Instead I decided to buy a used 360. A turbo on a 360 would be bitchin'. Better do a rebuild with all forged internals. Of course, with a bigger motor, I needed an 8 3/4 rearend, and to stop, 4-wheel disc brakes. This is California, so enter Classic Air A/C, then fuel injection, all new interior, 17" wheels, etc, etc, etc. My $1500 beater has turned into my $20,000+ money pit, and I don't yet have the radiator, water pump, trans cooler, drive shaft, and 50 other miscellaneous parts.

I know this was my own fault, but who among us doesn't want to have the hottest car around? Who can resist all the shiny parts flipping through the Jegs or Summit catalog? Who can flip through Mopar Muscle, Mopar Action, Carcraft or Hotrod magazines and not want to copy a really neat build?

I guess I'm just at that point where I need some assurance that all will be well when the car is done--a figurative if not literal arm around the shoulder. Somebody please tell me this is going to be okay. I need an "always darkest before the dawn" kind of pep talk.