Could You Live On $100 For A Month?

[jeffrey]

There is a show here in Japan that is very popular. They take three people trying to break into the TV business and give them $100 to live on for a month. The show is actually focused as a cooking show highlighting what they eat for each meal, how they prepared it and how much it cost. It's actually a great show on frugality.

The $100 has to cover everything...food, utilities, transportation, etc. They don't include the rent, but everything else. They aren't allowed to get money or food from friends, but they can go out into nature to find it.

The thing that is quite funny is that the recipes have become a huge hit in Japan, but the recipe books from the show cost $10 each which is more than any of the contestants could ever pay for.

What the show shows is that a lot of things that you consider must have items are really extras. I bet the show would do very well in the US.

[PrincessPerky]

I can't even live on 2,000 a month!!!

[akaivyleaf]

I can safely say I couldn't make it on 100 a month for utilities, food and transportation. Even cutting every corner in a metropolitan city wouldn't do it. I would be willing to try it with 250.00. I don't think I'd go hungry at least until week 4. Ooh and it would depend on the time of year. In the winter...NEVER.


Sharon

[kashi]

yeah, I hear ya...gasoline alone is nearly $100 a month in the winter. even taking the bus to work wouldn't be much cheaper.

[DivaJen]

Utilities alone are $100/month or more here. Our electric is roughly $50/month, and our water and sewer runs about $25/month. Gas is another $50 or so. Even if we cut waayyyyyyy back, like one warm shower a week (yuck!!), I'm still not sure how we'd swing it. I could walk to the grocery store, and DH bikes to work, so theoretically we could go the month without driving.

A hundred bucks....I can't fathom it.

[vendigirl]

I suppose that if I lived in a tiny place by myself I could do it. In my current house? Not a chance. Utilities alone are over $200- and that's just heat, power, and water.
The food thing I could manage, but I'd be living on beans and bread. LOL No recipes to write home about there.

[2moretrees]

I could never do it. I'd love to see the show though. How is there living styles?

[amomof4]

Just my gasoline is $200!

But I would love to see the show. But, I have no tv and live in America. Shucks.

[jeffrey]

To live like that, they go pretty extreme on the utilities in the house. No TV, lights only when absolutely necessary, plastic in front of the refigerator, 2 little bottles in the toilet tank, etc. The meals are surprising good. My wife has used some of them and mosr provide a full meal for about $0.50 - $1.00 per person (please remember that prices in Japan are 2x - 3x what they are in the US).

Commutes are what are tough. Trains or a car would ruin their budget, so everything is by bike. Some of them travel long distances for work.

[amomof4]

It's almost worth it to get tv just to see the show. But, of course, I would have to move too.

[jeffrey]

This past episode, one of the contestants decided not to buy food, but bought a used snorkle, mask and spear gun with the intent of getting all his food out of the sea. While it was an interesting idea, it sure makes you appreciate grocery stores. He eventaully lost when there was stormy weather that forced him to buy food.

[Tammy]

No we couldn't do it, utilities are over $100 here, then gas and groceries. Is this for one person or a family?

[jeffrey]

The original show had one person. Now they have shows where there are two people living together for the $100. The apartment is quite small and basically would be a small studio apartment in the US. Again, the apartment rent doesn't count, but all utilities, food, entertainment do.

[Tammy]

In that case, yeah I think I could. There are lots of ways to cut cost when it's just you. I wished they would air that show over here in the US.

[jeffrey]

I think it would be a great show because it would go beyond people who are already frugal. The show is quite entertaining watching them dream up ways to save money and then facing obstacles when things don't quite work out how they imagined. It would fit in well with the "reality TV" boom, but would have some good lessons to teach.

[Momtwo]

No way! Food alone here would cost $200.

[Luv2shop]

No possible way!

[gakline]

I couldn't do it unless I changed jobs...and probably not even then. My train ticket alone is $121.50...(soon to rise to $126.90)

Do they get a prize if they make it?

[Snoopy2645]

Nope no way but I do know people who do have to go out like fishing & stuff because thats how they eat these people dont have kids though. I have 3 kids & that would never work for me they wont even eat fish!! I have a few relatives who try to live off the land so to speak!! You will never find me doing that though ROFL!!!

[PRICEPLUS]

It is interesting. A great many people on the planet are existing on less than a dollar a day. It is really an eye opener.