Happy Easter!!!

I MADE IT!!!

The challenge is over, but hopefully not forgotten!  I am going to try my hardest to stick to my low budget, low materialist lifestyle! Stay tuned... 

Thanks to everyone for the support! 

GRAND BAKALA TOTAL:  KD  42.500 or $148.93! 

Only 10 Days To Go...

Is it really almost over?

Funny how it always seems to work out this way.  At first, Lent seems like it will be so long, such a battle of endurance.  Then, before I know it, the time has come and gone!  I will admit that this Lenten challenge has been much easier than those of the past as I have been able to break it a few times while on vacation.  With that said, I have learned a TON, about myself and about Kuwait.  

Things I have learned so far (you know how I love a good list):

1. I waste a boatload of money on crap I really don't need.
2. I have let my "things" rule my life.
3. I need a hobby.
4. The local population is really great! 
5. I would rather spend my money on travel than anything else (o.k. so I pretty much already knew this one, now it is just confirmed).
6. I really LOVE eating out...I do!

I do not feel that my list does my experience justice, but it is all I got.  After this journey, I truly want to try to continue shopping in my neighborhood and saving money.  I feel a new chapter in my book of life starting!  It is quite exciting!

My favorite picture from Lebanon!

With that said, I recently traveled to Beirut, Lebanon.  I remember Beirut from the news as a child. It was scary. I am not sure what I expected, but what I found was amazing!  A really culturally rich country with tons to see and do.  Sticking to my Lenten challenge, I only purchased a magnet and a cookbook (my sister would be proud). By limiting myself, I have found that I purchase things that I will keep with me for life, things that represent what I want to remember about the country and the experience.  With only 10 more days to go, I am interested in what other lessons I will learn.  Stay tuned...

Bakala Total:KD 26.950 or $94.59

Pooch's Food:  KD 3.950 or $13.88 (1.7lbs)

CAPTAIN WILLPOWER!!!!

Hell Yes... I made it!  (was there ever any doubt?) 

I must "toot my own horn"!  I managed to venture into a glitzy, exciting, clean, well-maintained chain grocery store and not buy anything (other than the pooch's food)!  This is a GARGANTUAN feat!!!  I might be so bold as to say, comparable to a sex addict walking down Sunset Boulevard! 

I miss WIDE aisles and shiny tile, I miss neatly arranged products, I miss the chill of cold air from the frozen food aisles, I miss the perfectly aligned shelves...I MISS IT ALL!!!  Scratch that... I REALLY don't miss any of that so terribly much, what I do miss is this:

My old childhood favorite...the Mac and Cheese!!!  Why is it that other cultures don't embrace the processed, fake,  cheesy,  goodness of boxed mac n' cheese? Ummmm....I just remembered, it is because  it has no nutrition value, but DAMN it is SO good!!!  I did not buy my creamy, processed, American fabulousness and therefore I AM---CAPTAIN WILLPOWER!!!!  

Bakala Total: 20.950 KD or $73.62

Pooch's Food:  3.950KD or $13.88(1.7lbs) 

My Cheatin' Heart...

It's not what you think...

My new destination for fresh fruits!

Isn't this how all great excuses start?  "It's not what you think."  "It isn't what it looks like."  Blah, blah, blah...This time I assure you that it is not how it appears, it is not what you think!  I have not cheated on my Lenten challenge, (not yet at least) but I have cheated on my beloved Bakala Qamar.  Bakala Qamar is great for all things that I need: household items, veggies, hair dye, quail eggs, etc.  It is only lacking in one department:  fresh fruits.  Therefore I scoured the neighborhood in search of another Bakala.  Ok, so it really wasn't too much of a search as our neighborhood has about 10 Bakalas within a two block radius.  Nevertheless, I found a fantastic little Bakala about a block away that specializes in, you guessed it, FRUIT! 

Apparently, each Bakala specializes in some type of product.  Bakala Qamar seems to be great for vegetables and household goods, while our new Bakala has little in the category of household goods and veggies, but tons of fruits.   Who knew, I guess there is competition among the neighborhood Bakalas?  Anywho, this new Bakala (and don't even ask the name) is fantastic!  It is clean and bright and packed full of fruits that are priced very reasonably.  I reread my original challenge and I am sure that I have stayed within the parameters.  I merely said I would shop at a Bakala and I think I am still doing well. The true test of my willpower will be in this coming week.  The pooch is almost out of food and I will have to venture into the "real" grocery store to pick that up.  Will I be able to resist the glitzy packaging and Western foods? Taking inspiration from The Little Engine That Could...I think I can, I think I can...

I have purchased several items in the past week.  Cleaning supplies, fruits, veggies, etc.  Therefore, my total has taken a jump.  Still doing quite well and saving tons of money while supporting the "little guy"  This challenge has definitely opened my eyes to how much money I have been wasting at the chain grocery.  Also, by having to buy only what I need when I need it, I have cut done tremendously on my waste. 

Bakala Total: 12.150KD or $42.80

Back in Paradise...

Did I Make It???

The hot burning question on all of your minds, I am sure.  I believe that I did!  If you remember, the original Lenten challenge was to give up shopping.  There was a built in clause that allowed me to buy one magnet and one keepsake from each country that I visited while on Lent.  For those of you who don't know, I recently celebrated my birthday in Dubai, UAE.  It was FANTASTIC!!  Dubai is everything that it promises to be:  BIGGER, BETTER, and FAKER (not a word, I know)!  Having grown up near Disney World in Florida, I felt right at home, but I digress.  On to the important stuff...the challenge.  I purchased the following in Dubai:

• One koozie from Atlantis.
• One koozie from The Irish Village.
• One magnet.

 While some of you may be quick to think, "wait a minute, that is TWO keepsakes!"  I can justify these purchases by saying:

1. This is pretty damn good for a girl with a shopping addiction who just happens to visit one of the world's most renowned shopping capitals.  
2. Atlantis is pretty much a country in it's own right.  Therefore, I think I am good.  What do you think? 

Upon my return from Dubai, I realized that I needed rice.  Off to the Bakala I went.  Apparently rice is a big deal.  I mean, I am no dummy and knew that, but I wasn't expecting to be able to ONLY buy rice in 5kg bags (about 11lbs).  That is a lot of rice!

Don't let the price tag fool you.  I paid 1.400 KD for this bag of rice, two onions, and a head of lettuce.  Pretty good!  But wait, it gets even better.  When I arrived home, you can only imagine my joy when I discovered that the rice bag has a zipper!  That's right a ZIPPER!!! It's the small things...  

Bakala Total:  7.350 KD or $25.95

Alright, so it is not quite 50 eggs but I did get 30 and a free dozen from my neighbor! Why? Well, they are primarily for the pooch and I have developed a new affinity for egg salad recently.  Mimosa loves hard boiled eggs. I once read that they are great for her black fur, keeps it shiny and soft.  I believe it!  Also, since they are not refrigerated here, they last forever. I’m not kidding…months! I am so glad that I actually found non refrigerated eggs again! After living in Guatemala for four years I had grown accustomed to buying large quantities of eggs (because they are cheaper) and keeping them for longer periods of time.  Upon my arrival in Kuwait I discovered that all eggs here are refrigerated.  It was a sad day.  I was delighted to find eggs last night in Bakala Qamar!  And even more excited that they were not refrigerated! It’s the small things…

 I am off to Dubai to celebrate my birthday so blog posts will be suspended for a while.  I will be sure and stick to my rules:  only one magnet and one keepsake…this should be interesting!

Bakala Total:  5.950 or $21.00

Interesting Tidbits...

Interesting Tidbit Number 1...

Today's trip to the Bakala was full of fun and exciting information!  First and foremost, it is exactly 111 steps from my elevator to Bakala Qamar.  This is a good thing as I find myself there almost every single day.  

Interesting Tidbit Number 2...

Our neighborhood Bakala is a bit of a rarity here in Kuwait, as it is open 24 hours.  I am not sure why they are open all night, but it sure is convenient.  Now if we could only get them to sell some "special water,"  all would be right with the world!

Interesting Tidbit Number 3 (I wish I had thought of this one sooner)...

The Stash 2/19/13

I decided today to take a photo of my stash.  It will be interesting to see how my shelves will look after this challenge.  Inevitably this challenge is making me reassess my current stock of food and use each item wisely.  As you can see from the photo, I have started with a pretty good stock of items making the beginning of this challenge seem not so tough.  I wonder what song I will be a singin' after my rations start to dwindle.  Stay tuned... 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting Tidbit Number 4...

Remember in the beginning when I told you that this challenge was cooked up in my old apartment in Guatemala?  Hopefully, you don't have to think too hard, as it was only last week that this information was revealed.  Anywho, this challenge is now intercontinental as my former roommate Andrea has accepted the challenge!  Check out her progress here:  http://super24livin.blogspot.com/   Want to take bets on who will cave first?!?! 

 

Interesting Tidbit Number 5...

Ok, so this one is really just a purchase update, but I have found out that my price is completely dependent on who is behind the register!  Today I got all of this...

for just 1.400 KD or $4.96.  Interesting because he didn't even weigh the veggies, just charged what he felt was fair.  I'll take it!

Shopping List:  Do we really want to keep this going?  Let's just keep up with the total spent!

Bakala Total:  4.950KD or $17.52