1999 Chevy Cavalier A/C not working - now engine is hesitat

I own a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier with about 167,000 miles on it. About 10 months ago, my A/C system started losing pressure. I bought a recharge kit and added refrigerant myself. Over the next few months I found myself adding refrigerant more and more frequently. 2 months ago, after recharging the unit, the A/C stopped working completely and would only blow warm air even with a full charge. Since it is winter, I decided to wait until the summer to fix or replace it. However, since the A/C has died I have noticed a squeeking noise coming from the compressor, usually when the engine is cold and idling but sometimes at other times. Over the last 3 or 4 weeks, I have also felt the engine hesitate when accellerating from a stop and while at cruising speed. I suspect the two problems (the A/C malfunction and the hesitation) are related. I cannot afford a major A/C unit repair right now. Would disconnecting the A/C unit from the engine until I can afford the repair be a good idea?