The Groupawn set out from a Chicago office in a paper suit made of gift certificates. He had won the right to eat, drink, hot air balloon, whale watch, and spa across the country for a year for free. In fact, at the end of the year, he gets $100,000 for his troubles. The only condition? He’s penniless. No cash. No plastic. Nothing to live on but a thick wad of Groupons.

Josh Stevens, 28, is the subject of a clever publicity maneuver for the Windy City based “deal of the day” company. Groupon e-mails discount offers each day to users in 60 or so American cities and even some European countries. On the day of the offer only, subscribers can purchase, say, a $25 gift certificate to Restaurant X for $15 or $50 worth of clothes at Store Y for $35. From this May to next, Stevens, aka the Groupawn, will live a life that revolves around the deals.

Josh is an affable and jolly giant with a gentle demeanor. He is welcoming and non-threatening, sort of a big teddy bear. He’s patient, despite having to explain the same unique story to different people day in and day out. These are all traits that surely come in handy when one of his Facebook followers meets him for dinner and welcomes him into their home, or when he approaches a stranger and explains his odyssey by way of bartering with them to leave a tip.

Standing at 6’6″, Stevens was a hefty 300 pounds when he started his journey — but with all of the walking he now does, he’s dropped a couple of belt notches on the belt someone bought him in Cincinnati. In exchange for a Groupon, of course.

Everything he acquires is in exchange for a Groupon.

“They’ll throw a fit if I don’t trade approximately the same value range,” Josh says referring to his Groupon overlords.