Although this may be an old fashion approach to observing the Great Fast, I would like to suggest this practice on this first week. Why not decide to put aside each day a certain amount of money. Then for 40 days save up those funds and, at the end of the Great Fast, donate that amount to a charity of your choice. I would suggest that it is a charity that helps those in need or those who have experienced abuse of some kind. We practiced this when I was a kid and it seemed to make Lent a whole lot more real.