Big Boy is my Sugar Daddy

Wait. Do what? Spend NOTHING but the Big Boy change. Yep. Seven days. Nothing but Big Boy change.

How much money is that, exactly? I have no idea. He's not very big. Not very big at all. Bob doesn't think I'll be able to do it. He thinks Big Boy might possibly contain only $5.00. If he's right, that would be quite the challenge. But I think Big Boy contains closer to $20. And while that's challenging, it's definitely possible to live on $20. Not knowing how much money Big Boy's holding is part of the fun.

Monday morning, when I wake up I will remove Big Boy's head from his body, pour the change out on the floor and count it.

Coin
by
coin.

That money is the only money I will spend for seven days. It's pretty simple. I'm not going to use Coinstar to count the coins because they take a percentage and I want to use the full amount. Plus, I feel like using only coins adds a layer to the challenge. 

I will also track every penny. This process will help me in many ways. I believe it will have me get really present to every penny I spend. In a very real way.

(By the way, if you haven't noticed, I'm creating the rules as I go. Literally as I type this.)

I'm thinking that for this challenge to be truly effective, I can't allow Bob to treat me to things because that's our money and that would therefore be cheating. I can only spend the Big Boy change.

I actually think this will be very easy. But, what if Big Boy is filled with mostly pennies? Do I have to carry Big Boy around with me in my purse and and every time I go to pay for something I have to reach into my purse, pull out Big Boy, remove his head and dig for change? Picture that for a moment.

Okay, I just pictured it. And the hilarious and embarrassing picture in my head is having me say, yes. Just my kind of challenge. Yes, I have to carry Big Boy around with me just as I described. I will be that annoying person who takes forever to pay. I will be the recipient of many strange looks. Undoubtedly. And deservedly, I'm sure.

You might be asking yourself, doesn't she have anything better to do? And that would be a valid question. However, to me this is more than just a silly experiment designed to make me feel like an ass. I believe it will actually wake me up to how much I spend and where I'm spending it. I mean, I've TALKED about tracking each penny... but have yet to actually do it. So here I am. Creating a public challenge in order to kick my rear in gear.

Big Boy will be my side every day. Watching. Counting. And losing weight (coins are heavy.)

THE PLAN:

1. Wake up Monday and count the Big Boy change. (no counting ahead!)

2. Spend nothing but the Big Boy change for 7 days straight - Monday, Sept. 21 - Monday, Sept. 28

3. Track every penny. Report in each night on the blog.

4. Ask Littof Readers to join me. Wait a second. This should be number 1.

Will YOU join me?

Do you have a change jar? A piggy bank? A Big Boy of your own? Then join me! Come on, it's gonna be a hoot!

I'm not kidding. I want at least 5 people to join me. Think about it. If you get nothing else out of this experiment, you'll at least save money. And who doesn't want that? So, join me! Won't you?

If you're up for the spare change challenge, here's what I'd like you to do:

STEP 1: Leave a comment declaring your participation in the challenge.

STEP 2: Take a picture of yourself with your "Big Boy" and e-mail it to me at: loveinthetimeofforeclosure@gmail.com so that I can post the pics on the blog on Monday.

STEP 3: Commit to spending nothing but the change from your "Big Boy" from 9/21/09 - 9/28/09.

ARE YOU WITH ME?

(Please don't leave me hangin'!)