$50 for 5 Days and It's Day 1

I have accepted Making Kenora's Home - Poverty Challenge. While walking through day one, I have noticed that everything is a choice. Will I have a can of Pepsi with lunch or wait and treat myself to a glass of pop later in the evening? At lunch, I choose to have a glass of tap water.

I have consciously set-up a little worksheet to record what I will use on a daily basis: the costs of food and what feels like essentials (toothpaste, shampoo). I will look at it on a daily basis, tracking consumption and doing my very best to stay within the $50 limit.  I feel confident that I can make this work.

What other parts of my world do I need to change or re-arrange? Our primary source of heat is wood. It is split and stacked. And, I just stoked the woodstove. I might wear a warm, wool sweater instead of relying on the secondary source of heat (a freestanding propane stove) to warm up the house, as the sunsets and the temperature drops. And, I happen to live completely off-the-grid on a small lake, about 15 minutes North of Sioux Narrows. I feel lucky. My electricity comes from a bank of batteries, storing DC power when the sun shines. I hope it is a sunny week.  I do wonder about the daily costs associated with satellite TV and the internet. After doing the math, I do not think I can afford the luxury of both - over the five days. I will limit all internet use this week, for work and for blogging. I will only watch TV, every two days. I think I am going to become even more familiar with CBC radio - over the next 120 hours.

Here I am. Still safe, with a shelter over my head. I am especially thankful for that, tonight. To my fellow participants, good luck! I feel like we are in this together. Good evening Craig, Fred and Marion.