Live Below The Line: Day 3

Today is Day 3 of our challenge.

Total for today = $9.62.

Poverty can lead to all kinds of social problems.

When we traveled to North Africa a few years ago my camera was stolen by a young man.  It grieved me to realize that he wasn't stealing out of malice (however wrong it was - which it was) but out of pure need - for himself and his family.  He was very poor and most likely just needed something to eat and he saw my camera as a means to getting there.  Sometimes desperate people are driven to drastic measures, even endangering themselves and/or others.  This young man made a poor choice, and was quickly arrested and dealt with by the justice system, certainly worsening his situation.

Poverty.  Are we aware of the reality that billions of people face every day?  Are we tasting a little of what it would be like to live as one of the have-nots of the world?  Did we scrape enough to eat rice and beans for the day, or go to bed with growling hunger?


Not remotely.  We are living a life of pure luxury, bar none.  Even with slightly restricted spending on food and groceries, we have more than we need - you may have noticed that we never miss a meal, and even have enough for mid-day snacks.  Decadence!  :)

I hope this makes you think about your money and food the way I have this week.

Our breakdown for today.

Breakfast: 6 breakfast tacos, 2 1/4 cups milk, water, 3/4 cup total cereal

($0.90 + $0.81 + $0.18 = $1.89)

Snack: 6 graham crackers, 1 cup milk, 1 free small ice cream cone and 1 free small french fry (coupons!)

($0.39 + $0.36 + $0 = $0.75)

Lunch: chicken tortilla soup, 2 pieces of bread, 3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, 1/2 container of strawberries, 1 apple, 1 cup milk, water

($0.50 + $0.10 + $0.45 + $0.63 + $0.37 + $0.36 = $2.41)

Snack: 3 oz bag of cheez its, 1 oz fruit snacks, 1 rice krispie treat, 1 lollipop

(Believe it or not, these were all freebies = $0)

Dinner: Parmesan chicken nuggets, 1/2 large can mandarin oranges, 1 1/2 cups applesauce, 2 tortillas, 2 1/2 cups milk, lots of water, baby peas

($2.13 + $0.60 +  $0.45 + $0.10 + $0.90 +$0.39 = $4.57)

Total for today $9.62  (GOAL MET)