I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy the week is done. I had heartburn last night. Moreover, I really haven't had the energy levels that I am used to, particularly when I was midweek and midday. I am also quite surprised I made it without busting the $10 allowance. I was fully planning on using that when I needed/wanted to. The temptation is so great to buy more than I needed. To eat more than I needed. "For a week" I kept saying. "only for a week". But what if I changed the "week" to "indefinitely"?
Where to from here? BAck to my old habits. I like being very middle class...And what about poverty? Well, I can really imagine how the quality of life doesn't change until about double the poverty line according to some think tanks. And it IS about quality.
I was only hungry once or twice in a day. I had many cravings, but most of them were for types of food, not just food. It was good knowing security. But I imagine if I had that taken away, my stress level would have shot through the roof. Reading DeParles depiction of the three womens' lives in The American Dream during this experiences was difficult. Many times I had to stop and say "you've got to be kidding..." or "were these kids ever NOT hungry?"
Now that I am through, I can say that I really enjoyed this experience. There were parts where I was asking myself if I should just cave and eat what I want. Spend what I want. But then I asked if Jewel, Opal, and Angie had that option. What if my future clients do not have that option? Millions right now do not have that option.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Lynsey, my girlfriend, made dinner last night. Some turkey sausage with onion, and two colors of peppers. I had a small plate...Sausage 65 cents, green pepper 25 cents, red pepper 60 cents, onion, 20 cents, and some rice $25. about $1.95. There goes that DQ I was going to treat myself to.
I am spent for the week (within cents) and I have plenty for the rest of the day, though not exactly choice products. No biggie.
Honestly, I can say this challenge has been fun. Lots of cravings and lots of practice saying "no", but fun. I enjoyed counting the dollars and cents and paying attention to how and where my money was going. I enjoyed talking to people about the challenge, even if often they just looked at me in as if questioning why I would ever do such a thing, then give me the obligatory "that is cool..." line.
The process helped me question my own ability to purchase food and other things in my life. Most of my experience and thoughts fell within the confines of how I look and practice my own life, but obviously there were some bigger picture questions to answer. Twenty one dollars a week to eat is the reality for many people. Carol Gilbert stated in an article in 2007 that critics questioned a 4 billion increase in the SNAP program, 1/3 of what the Iraq war cost every three months at that time...I can't imagine total "defense" spending...which I believe could be a policy and values jumping off point.
Policy...I understand the apprehension of providing more monies to these types of programs but living in poverty can not be something one can understand unless they are there there themselves. This was my best attempt yet and I know it has made me re-think my own behaviors and values.
I am spent for the week (within cents) and I have plenty for the rest of the day, though not exactly choice products. No biggie.
Honestly, I can say this challenge has been fun. Lots of cravings and lots of practice saying "no", but fun. I enjoyed counting the dollars and cents and paying attention to how and where my money was going. I enjoyed talking to people about the challenge, even if often they just looked at me in as if questioning why I would ever do such a thing, then give me the obligatory "that is cool..." line.
The process helped me question my own ability to purchase food and other things in my life. Most of my experience and thoughts fell within the confines of how I look and practice my own life, but obviously there were some bigger picture questions to answer. Twenty one dollars a week to eat is the reality for many people. Carol Gilbert stated in an article in 2007 that critics questioned a 4 billion increase in the SNAP program, 1/3 of what the Iraq war cost every three months at that time...I can't imagine total "defense" spending...which I believe could be a policy and values jumping off point.
Policy...I understand the apprehension of providing more monies to these types of programs but living in poverty can not be something one can understand unless they are there there themselves. This was my best attempt yet and I know it has made me re-think my own behaviors and values.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Weekends...
THe last couple of days has been pretty busy. I continued with my meal plan and had nachos one night and some vege chili I bought on sale. So far, so good. I am craving some more fresh veges though.
I went camping last night and had some pasta. In the morning I ate some left over packets of oatmeal I had and my last banana. I have to add about 50 cents for the oatmeal to my tab. I also had a granola bar on my hike this morning (another 35 cents) and then a couple of PBJ sandwiches. Earlier in the week I had an egg (20 cents). I am at about $19 and only have one more day to go! I will make it without going to the store again, but can't exactly eat my appetites worth, just what is necessary. I still have plenty of cereal though which is good, so cereal for breakfast maybe, just maybe I will have enough for a DQ cone to end my long week!
I really think that this challenge has been interesting. i have been hungry more often, but have only really been eating what I need. And, I am always thinking about budgeting, which is easy to get complacent about when you have the means to buy what you want for food.
The other thing that really stuck out for me in this challenge is identifying the many costs of life and how stressful it must be when it is not just your food that one thinks about, but also transportation, cost of maintenance of household, other consumables, all while purchasing other "identity" type items liek clothes or hobbie goods.
Just some thoughts. I'll write my last entry tomorrow.
I went camping last night and had some pasta. In the morning I ate some left over packets of oatmeal I had and my last banana. I have to add about 50 cents for the oatmeal to my tab. I also had a granola bar on my hike this morning (another 35 cents) and then a couple of PBJ sandwiches. Earlier in the week I had an egg (20 cents). I am at about $19 and only have one more day to go! I will make it without going to the store again, but can't exactly eat my appetites worth, just what is necessary. I still have plenty of cereal though which is good, so cereal for breakfast maybe, just maybe I will have enough for a DQ cone to end my long week!
I really think that this challenge has been interesting. i have been hungry more often, but have only really been eating what I need. And, I am always thinking about budgeting, which is easy to get complacent about when you have the means to buy what you want for food.
The other thing that really stuck out for me in this challenge is identifying the many costs of life and how stressful it must be when it is not just your food that one thinks about, but also transportation, cost of maintenance of household, other consumables, all while purchasing other "identity" type items liek clothes or hobbie goods.
Just some thoughts. I'll write my last entry tomorrow.
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