a dollar a day

so at lunch the other day i was sharing with jenna and natalie how katherine bryant is doing a dollar a day experiment this week in costa rica as well as how alison mccullough, if she uses her $85 monthly stipend on nothing but food, is alloted $.94 cents a meal, in LA which just makes it sound even more intense. loving a good challenge, jenna and i decided to embark on our own dollar a day mission.

the wheels have been turning in my head all week...is this actually possible? what am i trying to accomplish or prove? how is this helping anyone? all of this thinking makes me think that i don't have to actually do the experiment to be challenged or changed by the fact that the majority of the world's population lives on less than a dollar a day. now, eating on less than a dollar a day is definitely doable, however living is another story. a diet coke costs $1.25. the bus fare is definitely more than a dollar. it would be impossible for me to make my way to the store, cook my food, drink water, clothe myself, etc. for a dollar a day.

i know this experiment isn't going to solve anything, but i think that i will definitely gain another perspective, or appreciation for what i have. like i said, just thinking about this experiment has already challenged me incredibly. it is so easy for me to decide to do participate in such a challenge, whereas some people just don't have the option. oh i feel like such a snob sometimes because i want to do this, as i sit here in the luxury of my warm apartment, on my laptop, with clothes, and a kitchen full of food.

thinking in opportunity costs is something i always do, but it has reached a whole new level. every time i go to yoga i feel guilty because my membership costs more than what alison lives off of, although she encourages me to yoga. yesterday i went out for lunch and my meal cost more than what i'm alloting myself for an entire week.

everyone knows how anal i am about the products i buy, before i can even buy an apple i have to go through this whole laundry list of questions: is it in season, is it a product of the us, is it local, is it organic, how much packaging, etc. i have a feeling my trip to the grocery store this week will be void of these questions. which is kind of liberating.

i have set some goals for myself though. i'm going to try to get in all the food groups, even if it means i have to eat fruit cocktail. will try my best to avoid gluten even though it would be way cheaper/easier to eat ramen or macaroni and cheese for the week. still going to look for the best option in terms of local, organic, little packaging, etc.

two questions though: is it okay to shop at walmart since it really is cheaper, although i detest walmart and think it is satan and haven't shopped there in five years? and is it okay to accept donations? if someone offers me food, do i have to turn it down?