Are you ready?

     A few weeks ago I volunteered to be part of a project to spread awareness for extreme poverty, it's called the Live Below the Line Campaign.  I am getting really excited about it.  Myself, along with countless others have taken an oath to live on just $1.50 per day for 5 days starting May 7th.  Since there are 5 people in my home taking this challenge, we will have a full budget of up to $7.50 per day for the family.  I may reduce that budget to accommodate for school lunch which is provided.  That would leave me with $5.50 instead.  That is about $89 less than we would normally use in that period of time.  Talk about a challenge!
   I was foolish enough to blow my budget this month without leaving any for the challenge and since we don't get paid until the 4th day of the challenge, I will have to get creative and check weekly flyers for foods I already have.  I have already found $.99 eggs and bread which will be very handy to have.  I also took advantage of a local liquidation store a week or so ago and bought lots of cheap items.  Some of the things I bought were $1.49 cheese, $.25 Marshmallows and $.25 pasta bags.  I also picked up whole pasta kits for $.33 each, along with some other things.  I will be using some of those this week.  I have a feeling that we will be drinking lots of water this week and laying off the soda and fruity drinks.
     I FULLY encourage any and all followers to try this challenge.  It doesn't have to be the week that we are all doing it.  You can do it any time.  I expect it to be a real eye opener and probably even a waist slimmer.  Other things I expect are that name brands will be a thing of the past and so will second helpings and mid-day snacks.  I expect to have to shop at the liquidation store and so I will need to trust in the quality of the food, some of which is expired but still "good".  I also expect to learn some new recipes and learn how to stretch food.  It will be a learning experience and one I hope to repeat quarterly.

I leave you with a sample recipe from the Live Below the Line Cookbook:

Simple Bread

Ingredients:
• ½ cup Self raising flour
• Water to form soft dough
Method:
1. Combine flour and water until soft dough is formed. Divide into two
portions. Roll out thinly.
2. Heat hotplate, and grill until browned on both sides and cooked through.
Pressing air bubbles down with clean tea towel whilst cooking.
3. Serve with margarine and jam if desired and budget allows it.

Can YOU Live Below the Line?

From May 7th to the 11th my family and I will be participating in the Live Below the Line Challenge.  Here's some more info on it:

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Live Below the Line is a campaign that challenges individuals and communities to eat and drink on just $1.50 per day for 5 days. By exposing participants to a glimpse of some of the daily difficulties experienced by the 1.4 billion people who live in extreme poverty every day, for everything, the campaign provides a unique window into understanding the realities of life for so many.
Through the insights gained over the 5 days, Live Below the Line is assembling a movement of people passionate about eradicating extreme poverty. Through partnerships with various charities, the campaign raises both awareness and critical funds.
If you don't think you can live off $1.50 a day yourself, pass on the information and the Live Below the Line website to friends and family who you think will be up for it.

Ready to Take the Challenge?

1. Visit the Live Below the Line partner page and choose one of the following charity partners to support
   • Shot at Life
   • UNICEF
   • The Global Poverty Project
   • CARE
   • Global Syndicate
   • Malaria No More
   • Rainforest Foundation US
2. Enter your profile details.
3. Let your Facebook friends, Twitter followers, friends and family know you're going to be Living Below the Line May 7th-11th to spread awareness and convince them to join and support you.

Suggested Foods and Recipes

Hint: Power In Numbers

The best way to stretch your dollar is add more to the bottom line. You still only get $7.50 for the week, but if you team up with a few friends, you can pool your resources to greatly increase your options at the grocery store. So go out and recruit some friends!

Plenty of Options

Sure, you're not going to be eating tuna tartare or exquisite veggie pizzas this week, but with a little creativity you can whip up some tasty meals. Now, you probably won't be seeing these in Anthony Bourdain's next cookbook, but they'll get you through the week.
Pasta with Shredded Onions, Carrots and Garlic:
1 package of bow-tie pasta
1 tablespoon salt
3 carrots
1 tablespoon pepper
1 onion
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 cup canola oil
Peel the onion and finely chop. Peel the carrots and chop into half-inch long sections. Separate half a cup of canola oil and heat over high flame. Put onions into the oiled pan. After a minute, add chopped carrots. Let cook in covered pan until carrots are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cook pasta until al dente. Once pasta is cooked, add the other half cup of canola oil until pasta is coated. Add carrot and onion mix. Add garlic powder to taste.

For more recipes and tips, visit the Live Below the Line guidance page

Do you think you can do it?  If you decide to, please let me know how it goes for you.