From today devout Christian New Zealanders will be in tune with victims of the tough economic environment as they give up luxuries for 40 days and nights.
Today, Ash Wednesday, is the start of Lent, a time of abstinence before Easter.
Christian believers traditionally forgo luxuries or home
comforts - such as alcohol or chocolate - before Easter Sunday, which this year falls on April 12.
But as well as making sacrifices, people are also being encouraged to do more for others by donating to charity.
Caritas - the Catholic agency for justice, peace and development has distributed donation envelopes have been distributed to all 280 Catholic churches in the country as part of its annual Lenten appeal.
Catholic Church spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said money saved from Lent could be put to good use.
"The meaning of Lent is to deny yourself something that is sacrificial, not because you want to save money but because it's a habit that's become a bit excessive.
"You think, 'Well, it's really high time I exercised a little bit of self-discipline for my own good ... and also to see if it's possible that in doing so I can help other people by saving some money and making contributions to people who don't have all the things that I have'.
"It's really time to be a little bit hard on yourself with a view to perhaps getting to grips with important things in life ... perhaps reassessing your values."
In keeping with the tradition of Ash Wednesday, Catholics will today abstain
from eating meat.
The 40 days of Lent represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where he overcame temptation by Satan.
As well as donating through the local Catholic church, people can send donations to: Caritas, PO Box 12193, Wellington 6144, phone 0800 22 1022 or log on to www.caritas.org.nz.
