Day Three

Today's Challenge: Look at the local bus schedule and try to map out a route that will get you from Lakeside to your place of employment. Will it be possible to take public transit if you did not have a vehicle?

I looked at the bus routes online today. It is possible for me to get to work at Valleyview from Lakeside, however I would be late everyday. If I got on at the Kenora Rec Centre at 8:12 a.m., I would need to take it to the Market Square stop at 8:15 a.m. to transfer to the Pinecrest Route. I would walk to the Matheson St S and 1st St stop to take the 8:22 a.m. bus. I would arrive at the Valley Dr and Doner St stop at 8:28 a.m. and then walk to Valleyview. School starts at 8:50 a.m., and I need to be there much earlier than that. Not to mention, it costs $2.50 per ride, meaning that it would be $5.00 per day to take the bus. There is the option of purchasing a 22 ride pass for $50.00 which would get me to and from work for the month. That would mean I would need to budget $12.50 per week to pay for the upcoming month, and this would only allow me to take the bus to and from work. Part of the reason I would be late is that the Lakeside Route service doesn't start until 8:00 a.m. If it started earlier, then I wouldn't have any problems getting to work on time, as the Pinecrest Route starts at 7:00 a.m.

Today's meals are the same as yesterday. Breakfast was apple pie oatmeal and tea with honey, lunch was two boiled eggs, veggies (peppers and carrots) and dip, yogurt with strawberries and blueberries; and dinner was chicken marinated in balsamic dressing with salad. I had water to drink today. Although I am eating quite healthy (which was one of my goals), I am really starting to crave variety.

I realize I didn't take into account the cost of toiletries. For my toiletries - shampoo with conditioner, which will double as body wash, dish soap (which will also double as soap to hand wash clothing), etc. I will deduct $10. Now I only have $4.80 for the next two days.

Other items that I have taken for granted are things like a warm coat, boots, mitts and hat, and wonder how I would afford these if I only had $63 per week to spend. I could cut costs by buying more pasta instead of fresh foods and vegetables. Fortunately at school, we have hats and mitts donated to us each year that are available to all students, and our students really appreciate this!