As my wife isn’t here, I figured it was a great time to try something I always wanted to do since starting my blog – live with very little money for a set period of time and see what I learn. I think I did well, because I ended up using only $34.01 in a whole week. It was interesting and eye-opening, but more importantly, what I learned was invaluable.
A Little about the Frugal Experiment
My goal was to use as little money as possible. This included both:
- Money I needed to pay (like going out to eat)
- Money I already paid for (e.g. milk that I’ve bought)
I did not include the rent as part of the experiment because there is no way I could cut back unless I moved. I did however cut back on electricity during that week, which I will talk about later. The plan was to live for a few days with as little as possible and see how I do. At the time, I really didn’t know what I would get out of it but it was an experience that I wanted to have since I know I will gained a better understanding of life and frugality.
The Daily Frugal Life
During that week, I seriously cut back on everything except the bare minimums. I actually felt more energetic because I ate less and went outdoors more often!
Food
For the week, I ate beef noodles and vegetables that my wife prepared for most of the days, as well as some dumplings that my wife hand makes.
Cost: $28.52 (according to her)
At the end of day 4, I really felt an urge to have some ice-cream, so I had a scoop from the $4.99 no-name brand ice-cream container.
Cost: $0.49 (it was a big container and it was good)
Electricity
I was trying to conserve electricity within the house as much as possible, so I unplugged all appliances from the wall. I also never turned on the air conditioning, which we seldom use anyway.
As our monthly electricity bill is around $25 a month and all I really used was the microwave, I figured:
Cost: $5
Water
I could cut back on eating but probably not on drinking water, so I went down to the water fountain by the fitness center to fill up a few jugs of water. It was plenty for the week so no cost incurred.
Activities
I went out to jog and walked a lot at night. It’s amazing how many things you overlook when you are always in a rush. Plus I always feel refreshed after the outdoor activity so that’s certainly something I will keep doing!
I also got in a lot of blogging, as I wasn’t watching TV or using the computer for anything else but something productive. It’s amazing the efficiency you can achieve when you don’t give yourself the option to slack off!
What I Learned
There are so many things that we hear/read about but unless we actually feel and live through it, the lessons won’t sink in. During the past week, it was a different lifestyle to say the least and while it was only short term and more extreme than normal, I learned a great deal!
You Are Using More Than You Really Need
This further strengthens my belief that the majority of people who think they can’t cut back are probably not looking hard enough. Next time someone asks me for advice on savings and say they are already spending as little as possible, I will know what to say.
It’s Not as Bad as You Think
Knowing that I can live just as happily with no “extras” will allow me to control my desire to splurge. It is great to know because it will further strengthen my mentality as being a saver!
It CAN be Done
The message that struck me the most was that “it can be done”. I can actually practice extreme frugality and still be comfortable and happy. This is so powerful because I am now not afraid of survivability. Knowing this gives me a reference point for where my necessities lie and it also gives me the courage to venture out comfortably on my passion without worry.
Closing Words
Obviously, this experiment only lasted for a week and things could change if I did this long term. However, I felt that the experiment was a success as I’ve found a new perspective on life! If you have any insight as to what you think about this, please share as I’d love to know!
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
This was a great experiment, and something I’ve done myself in smaller doses (for a weekend or so if the wife and kids were away). So here’s the dilemma for both of us–why can’t we do this when the wife is home? My wife just isn’t quite as hardcore frugal as I am–has to have air conditioner running, etc. Maybe some of our frugal lifestyle will begin to wear off on them. Great post!
Thank you for sharing your experiment! I enjoyed readying about this. I’m emailing a link to my husband, and we’re going to try. It’s funny — but my husband and I are opposite Frugal Dad. He has to have the air conditioner running! But now that things have cooled off a bit, I’m thinking we can give this experiment a try.
I just love all the tidbit tips about money and other stuff. I’ll be adding your site to my blog roll if it’s alright.
Interesting experiment. I did my own experiment on cutting back on electricity usage. I always heard that electrical appliances not in use should not be put in the standby mode and the switch should be off. I did not think much of it and always left my TV in standby mode and the switch to my fans in the on mode. Until I decided to try an experiment to switch off all appliances not in use and to put the switch in the off mode. The result: I saved up to 21% of electricity!
You can read about my experiment at: http://wisdomnet.blogspot.com/2008/04/one-habit-to-save-up-to-21-of-your.html
It’s my pleasure
and you definitely deserve it 
Helllo. I’d just like to add something here.
CAR
As much as possible, do not make use of your aircon. This really saves gas.
It’s great that you know have this favorable experience to fall back on with good memories, in case a time comes when you do need/want to cut back again.
Transportation costs? Medical? Insurance?
Think you found out three great things – entertainment you make yourself is very frugal, and bulk cooking/eating at home is also very frugal. And the most important – you CAN be happy without spending a lot of money
Congrats on this life milestone!
Did you shower?
I think what we’re trying to say is that you ate and entertained for $34.01/wk – and that is great!
Just remember all those little hidden life expenses
David: Yes, I showered! Actually, I could have showered in the community pool in my apartment complex if I really wanted to but I showered at home!
marci: Yup I do remember them. Since I will be working from home soon, there won’t be transportation cost to speak of. I currently don’t have insurance yet (something I need to start thinking about) and I will be under my wife’s medical insurance plan soon.
I did a similar experiment some years ago now where I tried to live on a food budget of £1 per day.
I managed it quite comfortably buying the non-branded and special offer foods from the supermarket but I don’t think it could be done now as food is about 3 times more expensive than it was then.
Interesting experiment! If I would have been asked with how much money a human can survive in urban environment, I would have said more than 34 bucks. Good to see that this is possible…
Well done mate! It is true that you see a lot more of the world when you are on two feet. I often do leafletting (don’t know what that would be called in the U.S.) and I am amazed by all the little things that I see.
Wow. I did not know living on 34 dollars a week is possible. I should try this one day.
Interesting. Even though in real life you’d have to factor in a week’s percentage of all your non-negotiable bills like mortgage, insurance and utilities, it’s still a great way to figure out what you can trim on your discretionary expenses. Good post!
Very interesting experiment, and I applaud you. But I do have one bone to pick – when you got your water from the fountain by the fitness center, you simply transferred your own expenses to someone else. It’s a personal choice, but one I wouldn’t make.
Love your experiment! It is actually my life and not because it has to be. We are trying to put every penny, and I mean every penny, into the oil market right now so I guess it is sort of an experiment. Being a vegetarian I can eat for $20.00 a week. Really, $20.00.
Great post!
P.S. A wonderful quote I read this week “every penny you spend is risking a little bit of your future”
It really is amazing what you can do, we have done this kind of thing when we wanted to save fast – or when I bought a sofa in the sale and paid cash leaving only £10 in the bank for the month’s food! We could have paid by credit card and paid it off with minimum payments and the sofa would have cost twice as much – mmmm, a no brainer really!
That’s a neat experiment. I don’t know if I’d be able to do that – filling up on several jugs of water for free at the local fitness center kinda makes me feel pretty embarrassed.
Wow, that is a great test. I have to say that you almost thought of everything and I think I’m going to try something similar and see how much I can live on. I know there are times when I’m spending more, but there are some weeks where I think I might be close your amount. Over the past two months my wife and I have been cutting back on going out and trying to save money. We are trying to save enough for a house, and have saved thousands over the past two months by eating at home more, cutting coupons, and trying to not to do any extra activities. It’s been quite boring, but we are almost at our goal so it’s worth it.
I find it interesting that you did this experiment at a time when you were alone. I know I could live very frugally by myself, but with two–and sometimes three–near-adult daughters and a husband, I find it really difficult to cut back on things like food. The mom instinct to provide a healthy variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, is hard to ignore (and fairly pricey!). I also notice you had the benefit of eating food your wife had prepared ahead for you. How would you do if you really had to do it all yourself?
I’m not trying to put you down. I love your blog and I think this was a great experiment. I guess I’m just jealous because I know I could save so much money if I were living on my own!
There’s absolutely no need to be jealous. Yes, money is important to all of us but I’m sure you will agree that family is much more important than money, and that money is a vehicle to meet our goals and not the goal in itself.
Sure, I can be more frugal when I’m alone but without my wife, having money is meaningless. It was a fun experiment, and it would be fun to try it with my wife as well.
Perhaps you can try it with your family and see what happens? Of course, the purpose is to have fun and to actually deprive yourself
If you do try it though, report back and let us know how you do!
I live in northern PA and we have snowstorms during the winter. This allows for our electricity to go out at the most opportune times.
A year ago this happened. No showers. No T.V. Only a quiet winter night and the crackle of the wood fire.
I have to admit that I am an addict to t.v. and the internet. I really think t.v. is a terrible use of time and plan on never paying for it (right now it is included in my rent). But that few days was the absolute best. I never felt more at peace. I had a wind up emergency radio, my dog, and family. It was really a peaceful time and made me appreciate everything I had.
This sounds similar to my current lifestyle, except for a bit higher amount for food.
You’re right, it’s nice because there’s less clutter and you get to enjoy the little things that matter more than filling up your time with stuff.
Thanks for sharing your experiment.
I have done similar methods like this but it was usually because I lost my job and had nothing to live on.
I survived about three months on a dollar a day. I lived off of three Little Debbie cakes a day. I was thin like a rail and lost some of my teeth from malnutrition.
Ahh…good times.