Poverty Journal Assignment
SOWK 101 - B06
Brittany Parker
Day 1 - Sunday, February 4, 2024
Expenses
- Carpool to church: $1.00 for round trip
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and black coffee for $0.56
- Lunch: Canned tomato soup and grilled cheese for $1.01
- Snack: Apple sauce with a cup of green tea for $0.54
- Dinner: Spaghetti (pasta with sauce and ground beef) for $1.06
Total: $4.17
Activities
- Church with sister
- School work
- Prepare for work
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
Today, I went to church with my sister. Thankfully I was able to carpool with her and save some
money. I do not always wear makeup, but typically do on Sunday morning. Limiting the amount
that I wore today made me more self-conscious. Occasionally, after church, my sister and I go
out for lunch. While we do not go every Sunday, not even having that as an option today felt
weird. I got some school work done and things prepared for the workweek ahead with lesson
plans. It was strange not being able to have something playing in the background while I was
working. I did have a snack while working and a cup of tea. Thankfully, shopping at Aldi with
lower prices is a benefit. Ended my day by spending time with Jesus as I normally do. I made it
through the day, only the first day I still feel hopeful about things.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” Romans 12:12 (ESV)
Day 2 - Monday, February 5, 2024
Expenses
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and coffee for $0.56
- Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti from dinner for $1.06
- Snack: 2 Turkey sausage sticks and a cheese stick with a cup of green tea for
$0.81
- Dinner: Alfredo chicken pasta with broccoli for $1.41
Total: $3.84
Activities
- Work
- School work
- Gym with sister - walked
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
Today was a normal day of going to work, spending time after work doing school work, making
dinner, and going to the gym. Eating leftovers for lunch the next day is not something
uncommon for me to do. Thankfully I go to the gym in my apartment complex and can walk
there saving money on transportation. Taking that time to go to the gym is important to me for
my mental health, it gives me an outlet and time to step away from everything to pour into
myself. Additionally taking that time at the end of the day to spend intentional time with Jesus is
vital for me.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed
day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory
beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are
unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2
Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV)
Day 3 - Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Expenses
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and coffee for $0.56
- Snack: Protein bar $1.01
- Lunch: Leftovers Alfredo chicken pasta with broccoli for $1.41
- Snack: Apple sauce and rice cake with a cup of green tea for $0.54
- Dinner: Chopped salad kit with chicken for $1.97
Total: $5.49
Activities
- Work
- School Work
- Gym with sister (walked)
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
I normally drink a reds and greens drink and take some vitamins, but due to cost, I cut those out
during this simulation. I am now seeing the impact of not taking those supplements. I even cut
out the essential oils that I implement throughout the day but especially in my night routine to
help my sleep. Seeing the things I have access to and how much they help me feel better has
made me appreciate it more. Noticed mid-morning that I was hungry, so had a protein bar during
my planning period to hold me over until lunch. Realizing how much I just freely eat when I am
not intentionally looking at the cost of food. Leaning on God through this simulation and seeking
out things that He wants to reveal to me.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like
eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
Day 4 - Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Expenses
- Carpool to Prayer meeting: $1.00 for roundtrip
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and coffee for $0.56
- Snack: 2 Turkey sausage sticks and a cheese stick with a cup of green tea for
$0.81
- Lunch: Leftovers Spaghetti from dinner $1.06
- Snack: Protein bar for $1.01
- Dinner: Canned tomato soup with grilled cheese for $1.01
Total: $5.45
Activities
- Work
- School work
- Prayer meeting with sister
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
Today was a half day at school for parent-teacher conferences. Typically on these half days, a
few of us teachers will grab lunch before the afternoon gets started with meetings. Declining to
participate was hard, especially when I had friends offering to buy my lunch. I felt left out and
not included, even though they did try to include me by offering to pay. Not being able to
participate made me feel isolated when they came back laughing. Acknowledge that they were
not intentionally setting out to make me feel like that, but being unable to participate produced
those feelings. After work, my sister and I went to our church’s prayer meeting. It was the
encouragement I needed to keep pushing forward.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear
me.” Micah 7:7 (ESV)
Day 5 - Thursday, February 8, 2024
Expenses
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and coffee for $0.56
- Snack: Yogurt for $0.69
- Lunch: Leftovers Alfredo pasta from dinner for $1.10
- Snack: 2 Turkey sausage sticks and a cheese stick with a cup of green tea for
$0.81
- Dinner: Rice with chicken, sauce, and vegetables for $1.55
Total: $4.71
Activities
- Work
- School work
- Gym with sister (walked)
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
This week as been crazy at work and I am exhausted today. It is one of those evenings I would
normally just curl up and watch a show or movie to have a little downtime in the afternoon after
work. Rather, I grabbed a snack and a cup of green tea and got some schoolwork done. In the
end, I did feel more productive and it relieved some stress from everything that needed to be
done. Also getting to bed earlier tonight rather than scrolling on social media. This is something
that I have noticed through the amount that I resort to social media to fill time. At the beginning
of the simulation, I found myself being tempted to open social media and scroll, so I deleted all
social media to remove the temptation. It has been nice to take a break from it, seeing the
pressure the world puts on you to “keep up”. I believe I will be more intentional with taking
social media breaks more frequently.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the
Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalms 27:13-14 (ESV)
Day 6 - Friday, February 9, 2024
Expenses
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and coffee for $0.56
- Snack: Yogurt for $0.69
- Lunch: Leftover rice with chicken and vegetables for $1.55
- Snack: 2 cookies for $0.64
- Dinner: Frozen pizza $1.66
Total: $5.10
Activities
- Work
- School work
- Gym with sister (walked)
- Make cookies and games with sister
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
It has been a long week, I am glad that it is finally Friday and get the weekend to relax. This
evening as I write in my journal I am sad. Fridays are the evenings that my sister and I usually
spend together. Over the past three years of living together, it has become like a ritual to get
Chic-Fil-A on Friday, watch a movie, and decompress from the week. Not being able to do that
this was a little hard, she offered to pay but I declined. I felt like I was not allowing her to do
something she enjoyed as well. Something so little and silly in comparison to everything.
Instead, we made a frozen pizza and baked premade cookies while we played some board games.
It was a nice end to the week.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the
day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
Day 7 - Saturday, February 10, 2024
Expenses
- Food
- Breakfast: instant oatmeal and coffee for $0.56
- Snack: Yogurt $0.69
- Lunch: Canned tomato soup with grilled cheese for $1.01
- Snack: Popcorn and cookie $0.76
- Dinner: Chicken caesar salad (Chicken & salad kit) for $1.87
Total: $4.89
Activities
- School work
- Walk outside with sister
- Popcorn and games with sister
- Reading
- Daily time with Jesus
Descriptive Feelings
After breakfast I spent some time reading my Bible while I drank my coffee, it was a good way
to start the day. It encouraged me to be more intentional with implementing that time every
morning. This afternoon, my sister and I went for a walk around our apartment complex.
Thankful for the opportunity to get outside and walk. We played some more games tonight.
Usually, we would have watched a movie together, but I feel like we got to spend more quality
time without it. As we talked about this assignment, I felt we both gained a different insight
through it. I truly do not know if I could have pushed through this assignment without her
support along the way. The conversation really highlighted the importance of having people
come alongside you and encourage you during the difficult seasons of life. I am thankful that I
could shop at Aldi for lower prices. I noticed when I divided things up by price for each serving I
consumed that day it was lower. However, the overall initial price is what people may struggle
with. Thankfully, I can shop for two weeks and occasionally have to run in for a few items that
next weekend. The little things throughout this experience such as declining to spend time with
friends or going out for dinner made me see that they can add up and be discouraging.
Daily Biblical Scripture
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be
mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who
was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this
down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” Revelation 21:4-5 (ESV)
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