FINAL REPORT: February Mini-Manifesto Goal

As the cold winds of February make their final sweep across Northern Kentucky and the snow begins to melt into March, it is time to reflect upon my February Mini-Manifesto goal of a month-long vow of poverty. On Feb. 1, I committed to learning to appreciate just how lucky I am. I have a great job and I live pretty much like a king. I buy what I want when I want. But I often take that freedom and convenience for granted.

Not anymore. February taught me just how daunting the day-to-day struggle of poverty can be. I vowed to not spend one penny that wasn’t absolutely essential. There were movies I wanted to see but didn’t. There were nights when all I wanted was to go out for dinner a nice restaurant, but I couldn’t. No DVDs, no new toys, and lunch at home every day (because I only remembered to take my lunch twice all month – pathetic).

For me, it was a long 28 days. It was at times boring, sobering and nearly unbearable. But this month-long vow of poverty was not about me. It was about my friends who continue their struggle to find employment in this bone-dry market. It was about those I love who are forced to forgo movies, nice restaurants and toys every single day. It was about all those Americans struggling to merely survive in this stagnant economy.

And it was about appreciating the life I’ve made for myself. And it worked. I’ll no longer take money for granted. From now on I’ll appreciate the dinners, toys, movies and freedom. I’ll focus a bit less on all of the things I don’t have (and can’t buy), and more on the pleasures that come with financial independence. But I’ll always remember those who suffer through poverty not as a month-long personal growth challenge, but as a way of life.

And to that end, as I promised at the beginning of this month, I have looked at my bank statement for this month and compared it to the past few months to determine how much money I saved by eating at home and forgoing the nonessential expenditures in February. I figure I saved about $385 for the month on food and toys. First, let’s round that up to $400. And I took a little criticism for my decision that cancelling DirecTV for a month would have been more trouble than it was worth. Well, my monthly satellite bill is right at $100, so I’ve decided to add that in as well to bring the total to $500.

I’ve done my part. I suffered through self-imposed poverty for one month to save $500. Now it’s your turn. I’m going to donate that money to a charity of your choosing. So I invite you to comment on this note and recommend a worthy local charity. It can be a large organization or small. It can be the United Way or something I’ve never heard of. All I ask is that it be Northern-Kentucky based and that it focus primarily on helping people. After one week, I’ll compile the suggestions that meet these two simple criteria and then let my Facebook friends vote on which one should receive the $500.

Tune in tomorrow to find out what my March Mini-Manifesto goal will be. There are 31 days next month, and 31 of my Facebook friends will play a direct role in my Mini-Manifesto goal. Until then, I love you all, my Facebook family.

February Mini-Manifesto Goal: Realize How Lucky I Am

OK, it's Febraury and that means it's time for a new Mini-Manifesto Goal. Last month, I challenged myself to burn 15,000 calories at the gym and came through like a champ (if you missed it, read more at http://tinyurl.com/JanManifesto). This month will be a lot easier, and harder. This month, I'm challenging myself to realize how freaking lucky I am. I have a great job, and frankly I live pretty much like a king. If there's something I want, I buy it. (Hence the 1,000 DVDs, my HD TVs and the countless other toys overtaking my 4-bedroom house.) Basically, life ain't bad for me right now.

But these are hard times for so many. This economy sucks, and so many of my friends and family are struggling right now. It's easy to forget that. But I can tell you this, I won't forget it in February.

This month, I challenge myself to not spend one penny that isn't absolutely essential. I think back to my days in Colorado when I was making barely over minimum wage. Lunch was usually a bologna sandwhich. Dinner was often less. This month, there will be no DVDs, no trips to the movie theater, no BW-3's. I'll pack my lunch every day and I'll eat at home every night. And no matter how tempting, no new toys.

And here's the best part - at the end of the month, I'll look at my normal budget and calculate how much I saved by living this way. And then I'll let you - my Facebook family - decide to which local charity I should donate the money saved.Yes, this month I will realize how lucky I am. This, I promise.