Could you live on less than $2 per day?

I’m about to find out.

Live Below the Line is an event organized by the Oaktree Foundation that is designed to help those who are living below the poverty line.  They aim to raise much-needed funds to help with awareness and education about poverty and what lots of Aussies and others around the world are going through. The money from the Live Below the Line challenge is going directly towards schools and communities in Papua New Guinea – the poorest nation in our neck of the woods (their average income is only $2271 per year compared to our $34431).

Live Below the Line is a challenge to live on less than $2 per day for 5 days. That’s right - $10 for the entire week! That is equivalent to two bread rolls, a sushi roll (if your lucky) or half a coffee at the local café for the entire day. No more eating out with friends or grabbing a quick sandwich at lunch time, no more morning coffee and no hardest of all – not much fresh fruit and veg or meat!

I have signed up to try and do this and to be honest; I’m really not sure how well I’ll do. There is a group of us doing it together which means that we can pool funds and make our money go a little bit further but its going to be tough. If you happen to see me between the 7^th and 11^th of May, beware – I will be hungry and I get a little grumpy when I’m hungry!

We haven’t exactly planned our menu for the 5 days yet but it’s looking like it will be mainly made up of staples like potato, rice, pasta, lentils and the odd bit of fruit or veg if its on special. You cannot accept donations of food or the gift of a dinner at the pub and even if you grow veggies in your back yard you have to count them as if you were buying them from the supermarket. Eeek!

I’ll keep you all updated by blogging a bit more regularly about how its going and I’ll also put up our shopping list for the week and the meals we’ve managed to invent.

So enough about me - there are a few things I want from you!

·      If you want to join the challenge you can sign up separately or join the Fitness Adventures team at www.livebelowtheline.com/team/fitness-adventures

·      If you don’t want to do the challenge but can help us reach our target of $400 raised you can visit the page above to donate

·      Otherwise I want your ideas! What are the cheapest meals you live on (or used to – think back to student days) when times are tough? We will need some inspiration!

Til next week!

PS – If you want to know more visit www.livebelowtheline.com.au and you can watch the Project tonight on Channel 10.

All images in this post are taken from the Live Below the Line website at www.livebelowtheline.com/au