Rules

Here are the guidelines for the challenge – we want to keep it as simple as possible, but also as true to eating on a poverty line wage as possible. This means that if you choose to Live Below the Line, then between the 2nd and the 6th of August 2010:

• You have $10 to spend on five days worth of food and drink
• You must purchase everything you want to consume with this $10. This includes spices, herbs, salt and pepper etc. People living in extreme poverty don’t have a pantry to fall back on, so neither will you.
• No freebies! This means no free coffee and biscuits at work, and no beers shouted by your friends. This also applies for home grown ingredients. If you have a veggie garden or a well placed lemon tree hanging over your fence, all of the items you pick must be accounted for in your budget.
• If you begin to feel unwell at any point whilst living below the line, don’t keep going! Your health is the most important thing, and if you begin to experience any troubling side effects please stop the challenge and consult your GP.

Please note that these are the minimum requirements for living below the line. If you feel you can take the challenge further, go for it! Other things to consider are; factoring in the cost of tap water, the cost of the electricity used to cook your food, or other expenses such as transport as well. While we would love you to take your Live Below the Line experience as far as you can, this must be a personal decision that you feel comfortable making. Regardless of how you choose to undertake the challenge, simply deciding to participate in Live Below the Line is a fantastic effort!