After a recent analysis of my personal budget over the last year, I was astounded by the amount of money I was more or less throwing away on Thursday - Saturday nights, and, too often than not, other nights of the week, consuming 7$ beers and rounds of 8$ shots across Dallas. While this probably isn’t uncommon behavior for a 25 year old single guy living in downtown, I wasn't as much concerned abo
ut what I personally could be doing with the extra income, but more importantly, in tough economic times, what the rest of America could be doing with this wasted cash. By cutting back on a few overpriced beers a month, and maybe even cutting down on my happy hour extravaganzas here and there, my goal is to see what kind of difference a little less partying and a little more generosity can make. With that, the "Bar-Tab Project" as I have chosen to call it, is a pledge, for the next 52 weeks, to try to get $20 a week in someone’s hands who needs it more than myself. By randomly choosing a different household, in a different state, every week, I will mail a $20 bill in an unmarked envelope with the following instructions:
To Whom It May Concern,
Let me first start by saying that I do not know you anymore than you know me. I am a 25 year old engineering graduate of Texas A&M University currently residing in Dallas TX, where I have been located for the last 2 years of my life. This note that you are holding was mailed to an address chosen at random, with no thought, reason, or explanation, other than a hope that its contents will make it safely into someone’s hands. After a recent look at my personal finances, I was astounded in the amount of money I was throwing away every week at local bars for overpriced beer, unnecessary drinks, and often times temporary and unfulfilling fun. With a little re-budgeting, I am attempting to get this extra money, as small as it is, in the hands of people across America that need it more than I do. While I understand that this amount of money isn't life changing for most people, however, in tough economic times, my thought is that it may be just enough to change someone’s hour, day, or even week. The recipient can be anyone from a homeless man on the street, to a neighbor, a charitable cause, or simply your own family. The gift can be given in any form of your choosing, whether this consists of cash, a meal, a gift, or any other method of benevolence you can come up with. Their are obviously no restriction, no rules, and no guidelines. The next part is optional, and can be done at your discretion. I have started a facebook group entitled, the "Bar-Tab Project", where I will be documenting any results that come from this endeavor. The goal being to send one letter a week, to a different address, in a different state, for an entire year with the hope to spread an idea of giving to other people in my situation. If willing, please post a message, a photo, or any other information you want to this page explaining in as much detail as you are comfortable where the money ended up. If you are not familiar with facebook but would be willing to share what you did with the money than feel free to send me an email to [email protected]. I will not share your information with anyone you are not comfortable with, nor will I bother you with additional unwanted correspondence. Thanks,
Mike Witte
