ChrisMitchell

I am sick of bean casserole. That's all I'm going to say about THAT foodstuff. However I am lucky that I have been certain of some food, that is nutritious, reliable and, though I'm loath to admit it, fairly tastey. However the biggest question I have is what I can scrimp and save from a supermarket, not something as severe as considering what to do with say a sick goat (as many pastoralist people around the world rely on their livestock as a way of income, this is a big decision) or having to walk miles to hope there are some aid supplies without knowing for certain.

Other issues are becoming more difficult. I really need a shave, but do not want to spend such a large amount of my weekly budget on something that isn't essential. I'm also finding its difficult to keep warm at home, not spending money on the heating. Again this reminds me of how fortunate I am, that the decision about a warm place to be and food in my belly isn't an either/or situation. This is that case for so many people, even in a developed county such as the UK. In fact, approximately 1 million children live below the poverty line in the UK. This is 1 million young people who are, probably, either going to be hungry or cold.

On that downbeat note I'm going to put ANOTHER jumper on. I am beginning to look like the michelin man. on a good note, I'm just under budget. Tomorrow will be a day without any form of bean...

So today is the second day of my week of £5 a day for pretty much everything. I'm glad I made a big batch of food and counted all my travel for the week. If  (as planned) I spend nothing today, then I will be pretty much back on an even keel.

However, the more I think about the challenge, the more I feel the scope should be increased. I'm already including food, bills and travel, but I feel there is more. Should I include clothes I have recently brought if I wear them this week? Should I imagine that it is a (fictional) child's and factor in a present? Also how do I factor in food given to me as a gift by sympathetic relatives or friends? There are so many constraints put on people living in poverty that I am fortunate enough to have avoided so far.

Any way, I've finished my lunch and need to wash up my plate before I remember I've got bean casserole for tea...again!yay!

Chris

Well it is the first day of my poverty challenge, to live on £5 a day for one week, and so far so good. At this point, I've have spent approx £12 ( I know it sounds like I've already failed, but wait, there's more!) on several necessities (well, nearly). These include:

 -travel approx £3.50 for the week, thanks to a very good travel pass I have)

- about £6.00 on food ( which will last me about 3/4 days, lunch and dinner)

- £2.50 on my one luxury, tobacco.

This will undoubtedly become harder as the week progresses, and I can't deny that I'm going to accept free food to make it easier, but I'm feeling tenacious. It will hopefully give me a small insight into the lives not only of the people all across the UK who live below the poverty line, surviving on my relatively princely sum, but also the billions all over the world who live on far less. I'm fortunate that I'm undertaking this challenge in England, where a welfare state and public health care mean that I know if I find myself in an emergency, I can be certain that I will not have to think about twice before seeking medical attention or being able to find funds for food.

Anyway, won't keep you any longer, my casserole is nearly ready ( I hope it tastes nice, it's got to last me up to 8 meals) and I need to put another jumper on, as I'm reducing the amount of money I'm spending on my heating.

Cheerybye!

Chris

I will live for a week on a £5 a day budget- which is the budget that most asylum seekers have at their disposal;

Most of the time I feel I can sympathise with people in poverty, but not necessarily empathise. I am lucky enough to have a job, earn an honest living that allows me to pay rent and buy my food- and, if I have a health problem, the free hospital is down the road. I also live in a place where it rains a lot, but the risk of natural disasters due to runaway climate change or major wars that would force me to move does not make me slepless at night. Having a minimal budget is something that affects people all over the world- UK included. I think that this is a concrete and practical experience that will make the concept of poverty more real for me.

I live in Manchester and will be asking my MP John Leech what he thinks about what I'm up to ... What do you think? Will he reply?