I feel like a bit of a failure because I haven't been out and about pricing and comparing, nor utilizing the food services. Lunches out had been a big part of my week's plan, to source out what's available and what it feels like to have to use those services. Again it comes back to mobility...I don't want to walk to Knox or FC when I have food here, even though I recognize that it's part of the experience. So I haven't left the house since lunch at Lakeside on Thursday and that's been just fine with me, if not necessarily in the spirit of the challenge. The only home items I've used which weren't purchased, are the soup (mmm-good) seasonings. I rationalized my use of hotel shampoo (grrrr) and free toothpaste in my first post. How far into this maze of incidentals do we wander? Hand soap? Dish soap? Laundry soap? I'm still assuming that I bought those from LAST week's allowance and the food I've actually bought will last into next week easily. My laundry concession was that I did one load of mixed lights and darks, used cold water, least possible detergent and did it after 7pm. That should count for something. AND I may keep doing that after the challenge!

My daily challenge is "You have been offered a job. You have to find daycare for your 16-month-old child starting next week." That's a tough one. I'm 69 and I guarantee that none of my friends would step up to the plate for daycare! So I'll extrapolate that into something to which I can relate: Cat Care. Assuming that I'm actually going out of town suddenly next week, I have to find someone to look after Mocha. I think that's a reasonable switch. I got lucky. I found someone willing, if grudgingly so, to come in twice a day and tend to her needs. I found someone enthusiastic about coming over and spending time with her each day. Then I even found someone who would come and STAY with her for a week. Granted that's different than ongoing daycare for a job but I'm assuming that if it were the daily challenge job scenario I'd really be looking at an immediate, if stop-gap, arrangement which could be modified given more time to prepare.

Of course I've had to continue with My Cat's food and medication routine and have done so outside the challenge. She has had to make some sacrifices with me, since I've restricted her fireside time. I've kept my fireplace use to a minimum and then only during the evening when I've turned the furnace down even lower than normal. Cats may not be as demonstrative as dogs but she can certainly let me know when she'd like the fireplace on!

I wish I'd had Darci's challenge, to return alcohol bottles and pocket the change! I only drink wine but the bottles do accumulate and I don't return them often. If today were that day? Even paying the penalty for transportation I'd be golden! Then I had a bit of a 'hehe' when I looked at Brad's serious collection of specialty kahlua, vodka and wine bottles. If I WERE to return them for the sake of the challenge, I really think he'd approve!

Since the other participants are working and moving about out in the community, their challenges are quite different than mine. I haven't spent a cent other than initial grocery shopping and then my grocery supplement for milk, etc, Thursday night. AND I'm up two bucks from the Thursday challenge of borrowing a toonie from someone.

I realize, too, that the challenge is not a personal best, to see who can manage best on their limited funds, but to demonstrate how difficult it is to manage on those dollars. So it's definitely not in the spirit of competition that I'm reporting 15.85 remaining... just an illustration of different lifestyles and needs. I'm 69. I stay home. If anything I want to make a case for this being a difficult challenge and it surely is for those who are forced to live within these funds and still be out in the community.