Live Below The Line - The 5 Day Challenge

Next week I am planning to take on the challenge to Live Below The Line. 1.4 billion people in the world currently live in extreme poverty. This means they live on less than the equivalent of £1 a day. The Live Below The Line challenge is asking people to live on £1 a day for all the food and drink they consume for 5 days.

This is a mighty hard task, but taking into consideration that for our global neighbours that are living in extreme poverty this £1 also includes clothing and other items it really puts it into perspective how tough life is for over a sixth of the human population.

To be able to do anything like this it is important to plan ahead to make sure you have buy what you need. It certainly has been an eyeopener of how little a weekly allowance of £5 will get you. But it has also opened my eyes to how cheap own brand products are and how it is possible with imagination to eat on a very small budget. I think I will certainly start planning my food shops to be more cost, and waste, affective in the future.

Here is my shopping list!
Pasta x 2 = 18p
Bread = 47p
Porridge = 62p
Condensed Soup = 74p
Honey = 67p
Milk = 59p
Pasta Sauce = 16p
Carrots = 50p
Noodles x 2 = 20p
Kidney Beans = 18p
Tuna = 45p
Biscuits = 24p

TOTAL = £5 exactly

It is not much, and certainly not much variety. But it is more than I expected to get for my money. My meal plan is;

Breakfast = Porridge with milk, Toast with honey
Lunch = Pasta with sauce and carrots and kidney beans
Dinners - Tuna Pasta Bake (3 days), Noodles and toast (2 days)
Snacks = Carrots, biscuits
Drink = Water

Not much variety and certainly not a balanced diet but on a small budget it makes you appreciate how a lack of money leads to lack of nutrition which can lead to lack of health and well being, concentration et cetera. I think this challenge will really make me appreciate the fact that I can afford a healthy diet and just what the benefits feeding your body a balanced diet gives you.

So now I am geared up for the challenge it is just a waiting game until Monday! I think the week will be interesting, insightful, difficult, exhausting, draining. But I feel it is so important to face just one of the many challenges the most people face every day. Only through experience do you gain understanding.

So for anyone wanting to get involved please check out the Live Below The Line website to find out more information and if you wanted to take on the challenge then you can get tips and meal advice!

Roll on Monday! Until then, much happiness!