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SoapBlog 3: CASH AND KITCHEN CHALLENGE

A few weeks ago I had dinner with some friends.  One couple lives in a huge house that looks like a museum.  Those of us at dinner joked that if the economy got bad enough, we could all live communally in that big, beautiful house and weather our financial storms together.    This is not a bad idea if you really think about it.  We live in an era where more and more people are stepping up to the plate to take in needy family members and friends, or changing their living situations to incorporate renters or boarders in order to make ends meet.  Those who are blessed to be in a position of plenty are revisiting the kindergarten code of sharing what they have with others.   So while living in a commune with five or six of your closest friends might be fun for a while, (insert favorite college memories here), it is probably not be a viable option for most of us.  However, there are less drastic changes we can make on a regular basis that will impact our greater good.    

About a year ago I sat with a different group of friends and we challenged each other to quit using credit cards except in emergencies, and employ cash for all purchases over a period of six weeks.  This experiment was more difficult than I expected.  I began looking at everything I bought in a whole new way.  Did I really need what I set out to buy or did I just want it?  This new method of thinking caused me to slash impulsive clothing purchases, (and not miss the excess), discover very good, less expensive varieties of wine, save and use all my loose change instead of tossing it into a seldom used “coin pile,” and combine my trips to save gas money.  But the hardest part for me was at the grocery store.  I am a very health-conscious eater and cook with a renegade creative edge.  That means there are many items in my kitchen that to my creative mind are can’t-live-without staples. (Doesn’t everyone always have fresh cardamom pods on hand?)    My ultimate test in paying for groceries in cash was to determine what items were truly necessary and to find ways to exhaust the basic goods that were already in my kitchen with an innovative approach.  
I learned a few things in the process.  First, I spent less money and still ate healthy, nutritious meals.  In some ways I ate even better.  For example, canned chicken is much more expensive than fresh, so if I took the time  to roast an entire (less costly), fresh chicken it could be used in a variety of ways a few times during the week while cutting down on the large quantities of sodium found in most canned and processed foods.  I also began utilizing my own herbs to make the basic foods in my pantry taste more interesting. The freshness of the ingredients was amazing.  If you live in a place with even one window you can also grow a wide variety of herbs in small clay pots and see for yourself.  (Please note that if you have a cat your herbs may sport a few teeth marks!)

This experience reminded me how to live within my means and to how to focus on what I have rather than what I do not have.  In fact, if anyone has the means to conduct a cash and kitchen challenge, they most likely have enough to share.   This concept truly will impact our greater good, the good of others and may teach us something new along the way.

Christy Zerges is the Director of Corporate Wellness at The Gym at Carew Tower, 513-651-1442.