Living Below the Line: The £1 Challenge

Before you tuck into your lunch, a moment – where did you buy it from, and how much did it cost you? A Boots meal deal, a library sandwich, a Butler’s wrap… the best part of £3-4? A drop in the ocean you might think, maybe a treat. So just imagine having only £1 to spend on everything you eat and drink today. We’re pretty far removed from poverty here in St Andrews, but actually over 1 billion people in the world – around 1/7th of everyone on the planet – live in insufficiency, unable to afford not just food but housing, clothing, education.

That’s why this week, along with many others across the country, members of UNICEF St Andrews are taking a stand. Until Friday, they’re living on the tight budget of £1 per day as part of a worldwide campaign to ‘Live Below the Line’, in order to raise awareness of the fact that poverty is still such a huge issue. 

You’re probably all wondering how it’s going. So far, the consensus is that it’s definitely challenging, but I personally am struggling less than I thought I would. I’m very used to snacking while I study – perfect revision distraction, anyone? –  so I assumed that food would constantly be on my mind and I’d find myself ‘accidentally’ standing in the confectionery aisle in Tesco, surrounded by temptation.

The biggest thing this challenge has taught so far is that when I snack, I’m never hungry: I’m just eating for something to do. I appreciate my meals much more, too. Despite my diet this week mainly consisting of pasta, rice and passata, the fact that I’m actually peckish at mealtimes means I look forward to whatever relatively unexciting dish awaits me. While this week has not exactly been filled with variety, it has been eye opening to see how much less food – purchased at lower prices – I could live on if I tried.   

‘Live Below the Line’ is a joint campaign by charities across the globe, part of the bigger ‘IF’ campaign, which highlights specific steps that can be taken to ensure that less people face hunger and starvation. It’s hoped that this will raise awareness in the run up to the G8 summit later in the year, persuading the world’s most powerful leaders to take action to combat the poverty experienced by many worldwide. 

You can find out more information, track the progress of participants and contribute to the cause here.