When I went to do my shopping I also did some other non food purchases as well. There are five of us in this house and I am the one doing the challenge, I couldn't ask my children to take part as well, but for some reason that doesn't stop them from eating my food, I have already discovered (it's day one now).
Well, I was at the checkout and I had £10, I was spending £3 on food for the challenge and I also wanted to buy some essential items when living with small children (nappies, juice etc.) I wanted to pay for the two purchases separately, so as not to confuse receipts and to make sure I kept to my budget.
The first transaction passed without incident, but when I came to pay for the second section of shopping, (the nappies, and more essential in very many ways) I had no money. I checked my pockets, my purse, my shopping, the conveyor belt at the checkout, the floor, and I came to the conclusion that I hadn't got my change from the first bit of shopping.
The checkout operator was sure he had given me the change, I hadn't moved and I had no money. For several painful minutes, I searched, I questioned, and I waited. The store manager checked the CCTV camera and it became clear that I hadn't been given any change. All was well with the world, I got the change, I paid for my goods and I moved on.
I was lucky.
As my good friend Kate put it to me: "I get a sense that anxiety about being able to pay will be something ongoing for those who live on less than a dollar a day. You were fortunate to only experience it during your challenge."
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