Live Below The Line May 7th - May 11th on $1.50 a Day

What is Live Below the Line:

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. --Taken from BzzAgent.

Why I'm choosing to Live Below the Line:

I've decided that my entire family and I would participate in this campaign to our fullest capabilities, not just because it would save us money, teach us a different way of living, but because it would expose us to the realities of so many people around the world today, and essentially it would teach us to appreciate the things we do have. We will be "Living Below The Line" May 7th - May 11th.

I'm going to be upfront and honest by telling you that I cannot hold my children 100% accountable while they are at school because well they eat both breakfast and lunch at school, but I will say that I hope to keep my mother and my husband completely below the line.


I briefly considered not shopping at all, working with the items that we currently have in the house. Specifically because, we tend to overlook what is in the cabinet and go with what we want to eat for that day, or week, then we'll over shop, well over buy and we'll over stock, things end up hiding in the back of the pantry that we never knew or realized we had. But I wanted to prove that I could spend just $52.50 and feed my entire family for the week, sticking to the campaign as much as possible was going to be an extreme challenge.

With that being said, I had to use my use of coupons and thrifty shopping in order to make this work, I shopped somewhere I've never shopped before and spent about 75% of my budget there, but was able to add a little luxury to the meal plan.

The shopping trip to Aldi's:

Canned Vegetables: Carrots, Green Beans, Corn & Mushrooms (2 each)
Bag of Idaho Potatoes
Bag of Rice
Penne Pasta
Lactose Free 1/2 of Milk
1 Gallon of Vitamin D Whole Milk
2 Cartons of Eggs (if I don't use both, I'll be able to reduce my budget)
4 Cans of Tuna
4 Cans of Vienna Sausages
2lbs. of Chicken Breast
1 12pk box of Ramen Noodles
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Total: $33.79

The next shopping trip was for what I call a little luxury, for those whom I've coerced into doing this with me, these are the luxurious items they require to maintain their happiness and functionality....

The Shopping Trip to Shopper's Food Warehouse:

2 packs of instant decaf coffee (these were $1.00 a piece, hoping to use just one package)
1 Jar of Jiffy Peanut Butter
2 Loaves of Martin's Potato Bread
1 Jug of Coffee Creamer
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Total: 18.46 (It was actually $16.46, but I added $2 for the Jelly already in house)

Totaling: 52.25

Where I've already failed: I didn't account for items that I have on hand that I use to season or cook with, I'm going to have to either not use some items purchased in this week's meals or I'm going to be over budget by not accounting for the items I cook with.  Bonus though is that I can divvy out what I will use for the week and then divide the cost by what it would cost for that portion I'm going to use! OUTSTANDING! I've already decided that my goal is not to exceed one carton of eggs, and perhaps not to use the tuna, then I'll have room for my condiments and such.

It's going to be a rough tight week... Wish me luck!

(Please note that if the items aren't used, I will deduce my budget by that sum)

I'm requesting that all of my readers please find out about this cause, visit me on the web at Live Below the Line, and if you're so inclined please donate to the cause.

Final Notes:

I'm a member of BzzAgent, BzzAgent introduced me to this campaign, I have not been required to post, influenced to post and am not being compensated for this post in any way, shape, or form. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to LIVE BELOW THE LINE to share this campaign, It was only requested that I become knowledgeable and share the campaign with others, anything outside of that scope was a decision made solely by me.