Our $2.25 Challenge is OVER!!!

It is very exciting!  We might start off with just a cup of tea and a biscuit :)

Our week has been really interesting.  Even before the challenge kicked off it was pretty exciting as we got in the Manukau Courier.

But then reality set in ...

This was our daily 50gram portion of pasta

And this is how we usually ate it for dinner - with half a can of beans 

Dry toast and hot water served as a much needed snack

But we reckon it's pretty much midnight now!  So we are off to EAT!!! 

Thank you to Mum, Glenn, Rachelle, Bec, Kirsten, Janelle, Dani, Margaret and Roberta who sponsored our team!  You guys rock.  It's not too late if you wish to donate.  Just click this link.

We didn't think we would raise this much so THANK YOU.  We are also super happy about all the countless conversations we've had with people about the 1.4 BILLION people around the world that live below the poverty line.  

There is enough for everyone - the question is - how do we share?

All our food for the week...

As you can see it's not a very exciting diet!  This photo was taken on Sunday when we completed our shopping.  Not in this photo is stuff we haven't got yet.  Another loaf of bread and another can of ... something.

Alan reckons the beans just keep getting tastier (really?) Emily couldn't even face beans on her potato for lunch today so had it with ... nothing.

We haven't eaten the onion yet.  We are saving that for an extra special treat.  ARGH.

Some people do the challenge using stuff from their cupboard and working out how much it would cost.  So, for example a pinch of salt, a cup of flour and they work out how much that would cost. However, we decided to go hard core and not use anything from our cupboards.

We reckon if you were living in extreme poverty you wouldn't be able to buy in bulk.  We know that in New Delhi the families of the rickshaw drivers wait at home until evening.  The father comes home and hands over what he has earned that day.  Only then can they go out and buy what they need for dinner that night.

Mum has got a lovely lemon tree outside and some veges growing.  However, the chances of owning productive land and having the resources to grow stuff when you are in extreme poverty as also low.

Yes, its pretty depressing but this challenge has started so many conversations.  To find out more check out https://www.livebelowtheline.com/nz

Living Below the Line

Hi Everyone

Long time no write.  But we do have something to tell you about.  We are on day two of our 'living below the line' challenge.  We are living on ....

JUST $2.25 per day!!!!!!

Check out the video which inspired us to take up the challenge...

So ...  Day 1

Breakfast : 1 Sausage, 1 piece of bread, an egg
Lunch: medium sized potato, half a can of beans
Dinner: 50 grams (weigh of pasta uncooked) and half a can of beans
Snacks: 3 bits of bread each - which we have been toasting ...

Alan has also been snacking on carrots but Emily can't face it ... yet.

Day 2:

...  oh, the same as day one ...

It's all very boring and we have been a little hungry but not too much.  Thank goodness Mum found a pack of 12 sausages for five bucks!  It's good to start the day with a reasonable breakfast.

The things we have found so far are ...

- when you are living below the line food is boring.  There is no joy here.
- when you are living below the line you fight a lot!  It's very stressful shopping and deciding what to spend your money on.
- when you are living below the line you really miss your morning coffee.

But it has started lots of conversations.  We are determine to live the week out and thank you to those who have sponsored us.