To most people living on a whopping $8 per day means cutting down to just the bare essentials. Get all your food, cheap transportation, hunker down, do as little as possible and hope no unexpected disasters happen. Would this allow you to survive on your meagre budget? Sure. But how boring does that sound?!
If I was going to do this month long budget challenge I wanted to do more than just survive it, I wanted to make it epic! Sure I didn’t have any money, but did that mean I couldn’t have any fun?
Some of the best times of my life was when I was a kid and I didn’t have a dime to my name. It was time to go back to basics. I needed to prove that it wasn’t just possible to live on $250 for a month but that you could have a blast while doing it.
So Much Room For Activities
This is a collection of the boredom fighting activities I’ve done so far and some that I’m still planning.
Bike Rides
(So many bike rides)
I haven’t owned a bike since I was 11 years old so borrowing my friends bike for a months worth of riding was a little scary. Once I got ‘back on the bike’ though I was surprised to find how much of a freeing and fun experience it was. I wanted to bike everywhere!
Biking the Rails with Trails 20km Loop
The ‘Rails with Trails’ loop is an amazing ride that takes a tour of almost the entire city. Running along the abandoned rail tracks that used to connect the Okanagan Valley the tails goes from North Kelowna over to mid town Orchard Park area, then across to Mission Creek and down along the river to Lakeshore. Finally we rode back along the lakeside, underneath the bride and through City Park before heading back home. The weatrher was gorgeous and it was quite the awesome ride.
Night Rides
Brit and I went on a couple night rights across the downtown and over to Knox mountain. Our next step is to find a night ride group and go out as a big biker gang!
A photo posted by Ryan Lancaster (@scalemylife) on
Epic Rides
My new found addiction to biking was tested last weekend when I convinced my friends Drew and Karen to join me on a epic ride down in Penticton. They let me start biking home on my own and I got a little lost in Summerland (something they assumed to be impossible). Fortunately good friends will always come to your rescue.
Epic ride from The Bike Barn Penticton to Naramata then from Naramata to Summerland
Bike Breakdowns
I’m not sure if it’s me or the bikes but I seem to have a curse when it comes to breaking bikes. Thankfully my friend Drew has backups and good hookups for spare parts.
Hike, Run, Walk
It doesn’t cost anything to go outside and play so to save myself from daily boredom that’s exactly what I did. It’s actually been really cool exploring my neighbourhood and the beautiful Okanagan valley. I’ve gone for night walks. day hikes and even a few runs with my friends dog Nikka.
Neighbourhood Night Walk
A photo posted by Ryan Lancaster (@scalemylife) on
Myra Canyon and Knox Mt Hikes
Movie Night!
A couple weeks ago I met Jeff Myers who owns a local video/audio production studio and co-lab space called ‘The Film Factory‘. I had heard he had a movie theatre in his space and I asked him if he would into hosting a movie night there this month. He was really awesome and not only offered up his space and time for free but committed us to organizing the night as a can drive for the local FoodBank,
We raised 70 can goods and had an awesome night of games, friends and classic movies.
Making sure the hair looks good in the Green room before the show.
Good Venue, Great Friends
Not a movie night without snacks
“My name is Inigo Montoya you killed my father prepare to die!”
What a great crew
Upcoming Events
Board Games Night!
What’s more fun than a bunch of friends manipulating one another for the chance at world domination haha. We don’t have enough of these nights at any time of year.
Wine and Liquor Tour
Nothing says boredom beater like a wine tour! The Grapes and Grains Trail runs throughout the downtown Kelowna and visits 3 winneries ending with my favourite tasting shop Okanagan Spirits will make a perfect way afternoon bike ride.
It’s been an eye opening, transformative, educational and adventurous month so far and with less than a week left I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.
