Can I Live on 20.00 a Day?

CAN I LIVE ON $20.00 A DAY??

OK, so it appears as if I’ve become a spendthrift! I didn’t notice it when I was working but now that I’m unemployed it’s apparent that if I see it, and I want it, and it’s under 500.00, I buy it! This isn’t such a good thing when that paycheck is no longer making it’s regular appearance in my bank account.

I’m embarking on a personal experiment. Can I live on 20.00 a day?

This does not include:

My recurring monthly expenses

Gas and insurance for my car

Xmas presents

It does include:

Food

Entertainment

Personal items/clothes and cosmetics

I’m a family of one, my cupboards are very well stocked with staples and condiments, and I have plenty of clothes.

Day one:

Beginning Daily Total: 20.00

As I was getting ready to go to Renton, in the hopes of recovering some photos that Debbie lost in her computer the night before, my mind began to wander.

“I’m going to be in Renton,” I thought. Maybe I’ll pick up some bras while I’m there.”

“But I have to also get some peanut butter and chocolate chips so I can make more peanut butter bombs for the holidays” Oops! Scratch the bras.

Along with the peanut butter and chocolate chips I picked up a small loaf of bread.

Total cost 10.00.

When I got home I discovered the karaoke sight on MySpace. What fun! I sang for a while, then realized that if I paid 8.00 for a premium membership I would have the ability to not only change the key of all the songs, but put some reverb on my voice. That was another 8.00

Total for the day 18.00

I now have 2.00 to roll over into tomorrow.

Day 2:

Beginning Daily Total: 22.00

Helen wanted to go to lunch, and when I told her about my personal experiment, we went to the International District for a $7.00 bowl of noodles and a thai iced coffee.

Lunch was 11.00

Parking was 1.00

And just to cover all my bases, I bought 4 Lotto tickets

Total for the day: 16.00

I’ve now become aware that I have been eating out whenever and wherever I want to with no awareness whatsoever of the financial impact.

I have 6.00 to roll over

Day 3:

Daily Beginning Total: 26.00

I’ve been pondering how to approach this Sunday dinner with Houston, playing with various possibilities. Lucky for me he called and wanted to eat Latkes in honor of Hanukkah. Whew! I can do that easily for 26.00! While I was there, I picked up a couple of other things bringing my total to 33.00. I’m now 7 dollars in the red, but the latkes were fantastic and I do have left over kugel, along with two chicken breasts to cook for another day.

Day 4:

Beginning total: 13.00

Ingrid called and wanted to do art day at her house. That was beyond good with me because I needed to design a Day of the Dead toilet seat., and not spend any money. It was a great day, and I didn’t spend any money whatsoever. Ingrid fed me and we shared a bottle of wine while the day passed quietly and productively

I now have 13.00 to roll over

Day 5:

Beginning total 33.00 I’m rich!

Guess that’s the pay-off to having a Zero day.

KK told me about a dollar store in Renton where I could find some stocking stuffers. I couldn’t believe it. Everything in the store is only a dollar. I cut loose and let myself shop. 6.00 later I was happy with my aluminum foil and food storage dishes, although I did grab a bag of Cheetos in the impulse shopping section next to the cash register. They were necessary to keep my blood sugar up while I was being bombarded by the same 20 Xmas songs over and over, in every store, the same songs, over and over…..Talk about kicking a dead horse!

I decided a prize was in order as a reward for so successfully mingling with the masses during this high Capitalistic holiday. I stopped at Starbucks for a delicious 4.00 steaming hot beverage.

As I was chowing down on left over kugel from Sunday’s dinner, I realized that I now have accumulated 23 roll over dollars!

Day 6:

Beginning total: 43.00 Things are really looking up! I could buy a bottle of Jack Daniels and have money left over!

Instead I arrived at Starbucks early early early and splurged on a hot beverage accompanied by a piece of coffee cake. Do they have 12 step programs for Starbucks junkies??? I’m beginning to think I might have a problem. Time to say bye bye to Starbucks, those expensive drinks add up.

I’m quickly working my way through my cupboards. I’m going to have to buy some real groceries pretty soon. I better make a plan instead of going up and down every aisle like I usually do.

Spent 13.00 on chocolate chips for more peanut butter bombs, a loaf of bread and a bottle of Soft Scrub.

I spent 18.00

I have 25 dollars to roll over.

Day 7: total for the day: 45.00! Whoo hoo!

Disaster! Must have been an unrecorded earthquake, my liquor cabinet toppled over scaring the bejeezus out of me, and smashing numerous bottles of alcohol all over my kitchen floor. If it had happened in the night, I would have attacked my kitchen with my .38 . Helen came over and helped me pick it up. I’ve washed the floor 9 times and I’m still sticking to it!

My experiment should be finished today, but I feel like I’ve only just begun. I’m extending it for a month. I need more information.