Currently, I do not have a reliable and sustainable source of income that will enable me to comfortably take care of my family, and yet financial stability has always been my goal. At the moment, I burn and sell charcoal, but this is not enough to support my family. Therefore, I plan to expand my business by sourcing more charcoal from local vendors and transporting it to a nearby town where I can sell it at a better price for greater profits. To achieve this, I need around $200. My strategy is to continue saving all my transfers from GiveDirectly, along with some earnings from my hustles in our merry-go-round group. Once I receive the pooled funds, I will use them to expand my business. My ultimate goal is not only to generate enough profit to support my family but also to save for future needs, such as paying school fees and buying food and clothing for my children and myself. This business venture is crucial for securing our future and improving our quality of life.

I have always wished to expand my charcoal business. Currently, I burn and sell charcoal, but it is not enough to support my family. I want to grow my business to the point where I can buy charcoal from local vendors and transport it to a nearby town for sale at better prices, which will help me achieve financial stability. To reach this goal, I joined a merry-go-round group where I save all of my transfers from GiveDirectly. Recently, I saved $102 from my transfers so that when I receive the pooled funds, I can use them to expand my business. I am really excited about this opportunity and am hopeful for its success, as it will enable me to better take care of my family.

Since I don't have any other source of income and rely entirely on GiveDirectly transfers, my aspiration is to start my own business and provide for my family. I envision opening a shop that offers a variety of products, such as vegetables and charcoal. I am currently saving a portion of my monthly transfers to help me launch this business. My ultimate goal is to not only generate enough profit to support my family but also to save for future endeavors, such as paying school fees, buying food, and purchasing clothing for my children and myself. This business venture is crucial for securing our future and improving our quality of life.

We are planning to build a better house because our current one has old, unstable roofing that could collapse. When I received my most recent transfer, I used $10 to purchase one iron sheet as a first step in preparation. Additionally, I paid $1300 in school fees for my children, a responsibility I now handle independently since I am financially stable. Initially, my brother used to support me because I had no income. I also saved $48 in our savings group with the intention of starting a business in the near future. With the remaining money, I spent $7 on food for my family and contributed $20 towards buying a goat. My mother and I agreed to alternate contributions for each goat purchase. With the smaller remaining amounts, I spent $200 on personal items like pads and body oil, and $2 on grinding maize for family consumption.

I aspire to start my own business and provide for my family. My vision is to open a shop offering a diverse range of products, including vegetables, charcoal, and more. Currently unemployed and at home, I am diligently saving up the $150 needed to kick-start this venture. My ultimate goal is to not only generate sufficient profit but also to save up for future endeavors.

Last October, I joined a merry-go-round with nine others. I took $20 from my transfer and deposited it into the merry-go-round savings. Additionally, I put $10 into my personal savings account for the future. Being a mother of two children, saving for their future is essential to me. Currently, I deal with epilepsy, requiring me to visit the hospital every two months for medication. I spend $4 on medication during each visit. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for the monthly transfers and the good they have brought to me and my family.

I am now a single mother in a sense and I needed to think through how to increase my earnings. So I decided to join a savings group from which I hope to make enough to start a stall selling charcoal as well as buy a few animals. Animals for me are an investment. They reproduce which means they become more than what I had from the beginning once I invest in them.

I have been away from my husbands house for a while because he has not paid my bride price. This has meant that I have had to depend on my family to take care of my children. My brother used to pay school fees for my child and so when I began getting Givedirectly transfers I returned the favour and helped pay his children school fees. In August I paid $8 for his two children and my child while in August I spent $3. I am also epileptic and whenever my drugs end I make my way to the hospital to refill them. I used $10 as fare to go get my medicine. I have also been using the cash transfers for foo, in July I spent $10 and in August I spent $5. I also saved part of my July transfers $6 to my informal savings group and my entire September transfers.

Eager to embark on a new entrepreneurial journey, I aspire to start my own business selling fresh and vibrant vegetables. Currently without a job, I am determined to turn my passion for horticulture into a thriving source of income. Through careful saving and planning, I intend to not only kickstart my business but also fulfill my dream of building a spacious and comfortable home. With unwavering dedication and strategic decision-making, I am poised to create a bright and prosperous future for myself and my loved ones.

My child who happens to be in class five had an accident at school and broke his hand. I spent $15 for an X-ray at the hospital to check his injury. I am really glad that he did not have any internal injury and he is doing well. Thank you GiveDirectly I was able to take my child to hospital and I was also able to buy sanitary pads for $1.30. I used the rest of the money, $17.70, to buy food. Despite the difficult situation, I made sure to take care of my family's needs and provide them with comfort and nourishment. My family's happiness means haven to me.