1. And so it begins…
The premise:
In observance of Lent, I’m attempting to live for 40 days off of $100 total. All expenses outside of mortgage and utilities must be budgeted for.
A list of preparations:
1 bottle of mens multi-vitamins
A full tank of gas
The purchase of a Trek 7.2 fx bicycle.
One American Apparel hoodie
No food stocking or other preparatory steps were taken otherwise.
Last night I put the “fat” in Mardi Gras by ordering the biggest burger in town from Fat Mo’s, respecting the gluttonous observance of Fat Tuesday. The unnerving 27 oz. Super Deluxe Fat Mo. Its force in my gullet was hemorrhaging my intestines, but I was able to keep it down. I’d also filled my growlers with Yazoo Pale Ale, but was unable to find much room to wash it down. I had large plans to make the most of the evening and possibly incorporate some alcohol induced bad decisions, but was pretty much down for the count post this guy, so I called it a night.
I’d ridden the route from work to the house once on my old bike and it took me less than 30 minutes but it was on a Saturday, so bracing for a rush-hour bike commute, I left the house this morning at 8:25. To my complete delight, I was able to repeat my time cutting through Vanderbilt.
It was absolutely gorgeous this morning. I don’t know where the hell it came from, but somehow Nashville was able to shake its arctic temperatures over the weekend and within two days went from sub-freezing highs and snow on the ground to a mid-sixties gorgeous spring day. It made for quite the nice bike ride.
Fortunately I work across the parking lot from the much maligned (and undeservedly so) Apple Foods (of aka Compton’s fame). After perusing the whole store a couple of times to figure out what you can even get for less than a dollar, I settled on a can of condensed Chicken Noodle Soup to mix with a bag of chicken flavored Ramen Noodles. Surprisingly fair and under my allotted $.83/meal at a whopping $.67. I have a feeling I’m going to get pretty comfortable with ol’ Ramen. Regular bed fellows, I tell you.
Lent Fact: Despite the oft-coined 40 days of Lent, the season of Lent is actually 46 days long. The forty days of Lent discounts the Sundays in the period, as fasting on Sunday was considered inappropriate.