The preparation....

So, I've signed up for the 'Live Below The Line' challenge, mostly as a personal challenge, to see what it feels like to be among the poorest 1.4 billion (yes, billion) in the world. There's always a financial side to these things though, and my friends, family, and colleagues have been extremely generous in support both monetary (to UNICEF) and moral. I'm hoping their support is matched by their good memories from tomorrow, when the challenge starts, and I don't have to stump up the willpower to turn down too many coffees and treats...

The challenge is all about walking a few days in the shoes of those who can only afford to live on what you can buy in the US for one dollar and 25c each day, or £1 here in the UK. So, assuming that's all food, what is that? I did my 'fiver shop' earlier today, and this is what I'm living on for the next week (other value brands are also available...):

 

 

 

I was chuffed to bits to find rice a whole 89p cheaper than I'd found it when checking prices online - this gives me enough change to have a little milk with my porridge and some garlic with my lentils. But now I'm thinking... the 'value' brands are so much cheaper than the 'name' ones, what's going on here? Are the people who produce it - maybe some of the 1.4 billion - getting a fair price? This is more complicated than I thought...

 

More tomorrow....

 

https://www.livebelowtheline.com/uk-what-is-extreme-poverty