Designing an Experiment

Millions of people going about life and business as normal this past year, suddenly found their lives turned upside down when they lost their jobs. All at once, the smallest things could no longer be taken for granted. Living on unemployment or sometimes even less (for those who didn't qualify) meant even a trip to the grocery store was a luxury for some.

As a finance and career expert, I help people find ways to stretch their dollar and adjust their lifestyles to accommodate their income. It makes "sense" that when less money comes in, people find ways to make the dollars stretch further by eating at home and cutting out or back on entertainment. But what does that mean? What about when simply going to the grocery store is a luxury?

What does one month of meals eaten exclusively out of a pantry, freezer or refrigerator look like? Is it healthy? Can it be done? In honor of my readers who have lost jobs and don't have a choice about cutting back on even the basics, I will spend one month where I will do absolutely no food shopping starting April 1.

Unlike people who have lost their jobs, I will be able to stock up before the experiment begins on freezer and pantry items. But if I forget something, I will live without it. For one month, I will purchase no food. And I will solicit no dinner invites out (although I probably won't pass up any that are offered), and since April's both my birthday month and Easter, I'm guessing my sister will host dinner for the family at least twice. But this means I'll also have two party events where I will need to prepare a dish to share, and I will do that out of my pantry.

I'd like to encourage you to keep up with my posts. I suspect this journey will be a lot harder than it sounds, and I'll be glad to have your support along the way.