What did you learn Living Below the Line?

Already this year over 7,000 people have taken the Live Below the Line challenge- living on the equivalent of $1.50 a day for 5 days to raise vital funds to help those in extreme poverty. Taking the challenge isn't easy, often participants feel lethargic, irritable or 'hangry'. But most importantly, it's a very thought-provoking exercise; it holds a mirror up to our privilege and forces us to confront the wide gap between those who have and those who don't.

With that in mind, here are some thoughts from our participants who have already taken the challenge this year:

Image: Faith Archer- The Sunday Times

I was relieved when Live Below the Line was over, but it did not seem cause for celebration. Friends asked whether I was going to treat myself to an amazing meal, but the next morning all I really wanted was my long-awaited cup of tea and some butter to spread on my toast. - Faith Archer

That cheap food is often poorer quality food; the value jam that has provided a bit of excitement this week is just glucose-fructose syrup. That people on low income cannot afford to have principles; organic and even animal welfare foods are beyond reach. That potatoes release their energy far more quickly than I would have guessed. That fruit is a luxury. That anyone who doesn't have to worry about where the next mouthful is coming from is incredibly lucky. That we should appreciate what we have got.- Deborah Rawlinson

"I realised that an accident of birth has granted me opportunities that I neither worked to get nor particularly deserve. Or perhaps I do deserve them...but not over and above anyone else." - Beth McDowell

It has rejigged my attitude to food. Indeed rarely did it ever feel so precious an item to me as during the past 5 days. I looked at my small meals intently almost, in a Zen like appreciation and now I am going to make and effort to live within a budget that is no longer excessive and give my free time to NGO's - Ceppy Hite



I never ever ever expected it to be as hard as it has been. The tiredness, the loss of concentration, the irritability... These past couple of days I've had a few occasions where I've been so fed up I was almost in tears, I really just wanted to pack it all in and have a solid meal.... But then I felt guilty. Because that is a choice I CAN make. It's just 5 days. For some this is life and I'm moaning about 5 days?!- Laurie Bunting

As you can see, Live Below the Line can change the lives of its participants as well as those who it seeks to help. The challenge is open until June 30^th, if you fancy taking a step towards ending extreme poverty by 2030 sign up here: https://www.livebelowtheline.com