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May 10th


Day 1

Live Off Groupon, Commence!

12 hours to go and I’m surprisingly calm. The movers…gone, the storage unit…locked, just one night stands between the little that remains of my somewhat normal day-to-day and the adventure of a lifetime. From the moment I heard about this challenge three months ago, my wheels have been spinning. But at this moment…there is nothing to do but wait and see. No amount of planning will prepare me for what the next year will bring, my trial run a month ago taught me that.

One thing you will likely notice over the next year is that I have a tendency to dream big. Sometimes my friends just roll their eyes or mock me for having such unrealistic ideas, but if I lowered my expectations every time this happened, I certainly wouldn’t be sitting on my girlfriend’s couch, hours from unimaginable wealth of the Groupon variety. Skydiving and whitewater rafting sound fun and I’m excited to do both, but I’m hoping this year will lead to opportunities far less common. Ever seen anyone use a jetpack? I can’t imagine too many modes of transportation more inspiring. How about starting your own sport? A few years ago, a friend and I conceptualized a sport called “Paintball Fishing”. The details are top secret but this could be the year. How about meeting one’s idols? Ronnie James Dio, the grand wizard of classic rock is currently battling cancer, what are the chances I could meet him or any of the other people I grew up rocking out to? But this shall wait for another day…

Tomorrow I will first and foremost…need to find some clothes. Not necessarily an easy task for a man of my stature. At just about six and a half feet tall and weighing close to 300lbs, your average store may not be up for the task. Will Groupon come through for me or will I have to find another very large man on the streets of Chicago and trade him for the shirt off his back? This may be my biggest concern…short sighted? Possibly. No sense worrying about it now.

Right now, I can’t help but think about the things I’ll miss the most in the coming year. My girlfriend, family and friends, my bed, Rockband, TiVo…there are plenty of others but it’s time to let them all go. A fool once told me, “no one can survive a year without money”…with a bottomless wallet of Groupons to rely on, it’s certainly not the money I’ll miss.

Time to check the weather…crossing my fingers it doesn’t rain.

(If you need a paper suit made for your ridiculous occasion you can contact Elyse Perez.  Thanks Elyse!)

- The Groupawn


34 Comments

34 Responses to “Live Off Groupon, Commence!”

  1. Amber K. says:

    Good luck, Josh! I can’t wait to read all about your adventures!

  2. This looks like a wild ride.

  3. Natural Girl says:

    Josh, you rock! Glad to hear you got some clothes! Have a wonderful adventure! Dorle

  4. La Anjel says:

    So what the plan josh? How do you know in which direction you are heading in?

  5. whew…looks like the forecast was clear!! good luck buddy!

  6. mark palmer says:

    Groupon now in London. If you get to London, I’ll buy you at least a beer. Enjoy.

  7. @mark Groupon is advertising in London but not live in London so I think Josh is ging to find it hard to live off Groupon’s if there is none to live off…

  8. Dear Josh:

    This is Cathy, the driver of the horse from Antique Coach. I had a fantastic time today driving you around Chicago on a horse drawn carriage. It was great to meet you. I hope you had a good time on the segway!!!!!!!!!!

  9. This must be the $100,000 suit!

  10. christina says:

    I was leaving the david barton gym this morning and heard all this clapping and saw a strange dude wearing a paper suit, there were a bunch of people clapping wtih groupon shirts on and I was curios to know what the heck groupon was and so I googled it, and now I want to say, Good luck!! fun that I saw you start your adventure..

  11. Texas is excited to see what big adventures the man from the windy city has in store!

  12. Nice suit! Maybe you can get a free bowl of soup with that?

  13. Donna Z. says:

    You’re nuts. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

  14. tammy steadman says:

    this is so freaking awesome. Cannot wait for you to come to Austin. You will have a ton of help. What a cool gig.

  15. Hey Josh! Glad you won! When you swing through Massachusetts I’ll be ready to help.

  16. Alison D. says:

    Josh, hope to see you in Houston!

  17. CONGRATS! Ready to help in Boston : )

  18. When are you coming to Seattle???

  19. You are going to have such an adventure, congrats!

  20. wait, why do you have to leave your girlfriend behind to survive off groupons? that sounds unnecessarily cruel!

  21. Cherie D. says:

    Good Luck, Josh!!! Im Blind, so I dream the things u r actually going there. Come see us in Memphis Tn!!

  22. CMH1818 says:

    Congrats on your adventure- be safe and have the time of your life- see you in Seattle!

  23. Looking to see you in Minneapolis- the weather finally turned warm here.

  24. Jamie M. says:

    Hope to see you in Nashville! Sounds like a fun year!

  25. Bill Parker says:

    Totally awesome!! Josh, please let me know when you will be in Scottsdale/Phoenix and I will be glad to buy you a beer or two. Is that allowed? Can you take “Cool Dude” hand-outs?

  26. George Tyree says:

    Josh this is great. When you stop by Charlotte,NC we’ll have a blast…beer is on me

  27. maryann says:

    will be watching your progress - am Groupon user - if I see that you are coming to the Twin Cities in MN, I will try to be of help in any way I can!

  28. “You lucky mofo!”, finally you get to leave your beotch at home and see that there is tons more feosh in the sea. Be ready for the groupon groupies. Just messin witcha, congrats, and live it like it’s your last.

  29. Russell Bancroft says:

    Josh,

    I’m a big man too, and would give you the shirt off my XXXL back. Drop a line if you make it to Houston. I’ll buy you a beer, or two.

  30. Elisa Berger says:

    Are you sure you’re not a girl?! You will make some lucky girl happy someday - you never find a guy who understands the thrill of the hunt like us pirate girls, scouring the seas for discount plunder! ;- )

  31. Bill Hall says:

    man I am so jealous of you right now, I want to be out there deal hunting and city hopping too. Let us all know when you get through Boston, totally be down for using up some groups’ and covering tip for you

  32. Hey Josh, I wanted so bad to apply for this quest, but with a job, a husband, and 2 needy cats…well, suffice it to say I was out of the running from the get go. I hope you have a successful, fun year of living off the fat of Groupon! Come to Kansas City… we have lots of BBQ and great beer, and I’d love to help you out. Just holla!

  33. Thank you all! I will certainly try to make it to as many cities as I can in the next year. I can’t wait to meet you all!

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