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Reflection on Living Below the Line

Over the last few days I've (Beth) had some interesting conversations on facebook about living below the line so I thought I'd share them with you now.

April 2 -- Beth: Going to ASDA tonight to shop for living below the line. Just wondering what the official rules are on dumpster diving behind ASDA..

Anna: Even if its not in THE rules there's other rules that should prevent that! :-

Living Below the Line - Final Day

So our challenge has drawn to a close after five days. The first day was not so bad, I would say that days two and three were the hardest as my stomach realised the fact it would have to get used to eating less.

Beth and I would like to say thank you to our friends and family who have helped us to raise £297 so far for MRDF. If you would like to add to this to help those who have to live in a situation more difficult that the one we faced every single day you can do so here: https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/jonners99

Count your Blessings - End

So another year of Counting my Blessings is behind me over the lent period I raised £20.09, I will raise that up to £21 and send a cheque to Christian Aid.

I always find count your blessings a fulfilling experience. It gives me an idea of what others face daily and helps me to keep my eyes open. I look forward to taking part again next year.

Living Below the Line - Day 4

Somehow we both ended up beginning the first day of our four day weekend waking at 7am. We therefore had our porridge at a fairly normal time and then went to the morning Good Friday service at the Salvation Army chapel. I had trouble concentrating, possibly for food reasons, possibly non-related ones. Beth then went on to the town centre service and I toddled off home to play some games and work on websites.

Living Below the Line - Day 3

Day three saw us passing halfway. We had porridge for breakfast and it was fine and dandy. Then again I am happy with familiarity at breakfast. I tend to pick a cereal and stick with it for as long as I can.

I didn't have much trouble getting to lunchtime but felt hungry at about midday when my colleagues started eating. 

I managed to hold off till half one. Usually I go for a walk after eating but it was too darned cold. Instead went back and tried to get on with work in the knowledge that we had a four day weekend just around the corner.

Living Below the Line - Day 2

Wednesday was largely the same as Tuesday. It turned out our porridge measurements were off on Tuesday though. The portion this time seemed about twice the size.

At work I found it hard to concentrate when I started to get hungry. I got the work done, perhaps a little slower though. Along with my sandwich this time I also had some carrot sticks which I rationed through the day. By the time I got home though I was very hungry.

Living Below the Line - Day 1

So the first day is over. I started out disappointed with the portion sizes and ended the day disappointed that we had miscalculated.

As you saw yesterday our plan was to have porridge for breakfast. Apparently to make the porridge spread across ten meals (two of us for five days) we would be having a quarter of a cup of porridge. This turned out not to be very much at all. After adding milk and a little sugar mine was gone in about four spoonfuls. Either we got the measurements wrong or I need to stop wolfing my food down.

Living Below the Line - Prep

Yesterday evening after a lovely and filling pasta night we headed off to Asda. Usually I avoid Asda like the plague when not buying thanksgiving turkeys but one cannot deny that they are amongst the cheaper supermarkets.

We entered with our £10 figuratively in hand and came out having spent £9.85

Count your Blessings - Week 7

As we enter holy week, Beth and I are beginning our Live Below the Line challenge. We have just come back from ASDA to pick up our food for the week and I am interested to see how we will get on. Tomorrow I will be posting the first of six daily posts about our challenge, the meals we are having and how we are getting on.

For now though, we enter the final week counting our blessings with a week of striving to earn

Count your blessings - Week 6

This week's count your blessings encourages us to think about reconciliation. Before we get started though, Beth and I are starting to plan our food for living below the line. Any ideas for some good ultra-low budget meals?

Monday 26
One in three people in Angola faced a demand for a bribe from officials within the last year.
Give thanks for our government and police who act for our protection.

Tuesday 27