"Living with only my mother, who is advanced in age, has made me the primary provider for our household. I run an electronic repair business from home, but the lack of necessary equipment hampers its success, making it challenging to cover our daily expenses. The cash transfers have provided much-needed relief, helping me ensure that my mother and I have daily meals. Over the past three months, I allocated $68 for food, primarily maize flour, ensuring that hunger is not a constant concern in our home. With the Christmas period approaching, I spent $26 to purchase food supplies for the festive day, taking advantage of buying early to avoid potential price hikes as the holiday draws near. Additionally, I invested $5 in chicken feeds and $3 in coccidiosis medicine to safeguard my chickens from the outbreak in the region, preventing losses."

"As a part-time laborer, I primarily earn my income by selling charcoal. When the rainy season arrives, I shift my focus to working on the farm to ensure a successful harvest, which is crucial for our food security. I recently spent $55 on purchasing food items for my family of seven. I am grateful and content knowing that we have not experienced food shortages over the past three months. Additionally, I allocated $20 to buy medicines for some of my goats, which had fallen ill due to a mysterious disease. Thankfully, they have recovered and are now in good health. Moreover, I dedicated $15 to cover the school fees for my five children, enabling them to sit for their end-of-year exams. In a strategic move for future income generation, I invested $12 in purchasing hens. The financial assistance I have received thus far has significantly transformed my life for the better, and I am genuinely pleased with the progress."

"I saved the transfers from September and October which went into the purchase of my two goats. The goats each went for $32 and I also paid for my transport to and from the place of purchase. For my November transfers I am yet to use them. My plan is to buy seeds for planting as well buying pesticides to be used once we are done with planting as well as medicine for my goats."

"I have had a number of months where I have been focusing on the health of my family members. My child has been sick since last year and is required to attend clinics regularly while also getting a monthly dose of medicine. I spent my September transfer covering fare to the hospital which is quite far at $10, we paid for consultation at the hospital at $10 and later buying medicine at $4.5. I also had my mother who was ailing, she has also been sick for as long as I can remember having issues with her kidneys and head, I spent the money paying for X-ray, as well as buying medicine and also paying the hospital for consulting with us and this cost $30. The cash I had left in September bought food at $10. In November we had a wedding back home, I left my matrimonial home and went to my parent's place which I paid $4 in fare and I also bought 25KG of rice at $30 for the wedding."

"GiveDirectly has been a tremendous blessing for my family. While my husband works as a casual laborer and I engage in farming, his income is often insufficient to support our family of four. The positive transformation in our circumstances is evident as we now have access to food, and we can provide financial support to our son who is currently studying medicine in college. From the received transfers, I allocated $57 to my son, enabling him to purchase food and other essentials while away at college. The remaining $45 was wisely saved in a savings club, with plans to utilize it in the coming year to purchase goats. This support has brought about a significant improvement in our lives, and I am genuinely happy and grateful for the positive change it has brought to our family."

"I have been saving a good portion of my transfers over the last three months. I save $24 monthly and spend $10 on immediate needs in my home. I spent the $10 in September to get a few clothes seeing that the state of most of my clothes is that most are worn out. I bought them at $4. I spent $2 on buying medicine for my sick child, I spent $2 on vegetables and the remaining $2 on buying breakfast items for the children as they went to school. In October the remaining $10 went into buying sugar at $2, I spent the remaining $8 buying vegetables and pastries for the children for breakfast. In November I am planning on using the $10 in getting chicken from the local market this coming friday."

"Looking ahead to the next year, I anticipate sending my recently completed high school son to college. He aspires to pursue a course in either medicine or law, following the release of his examination results. While I am uncertain about the financial feasibility of these courses, I am committed to supporting him to the best of my ability. I firmly believe that his college education will open opportunities for stable and well-paying employment, ultimately uplifting both him and the family from poverty."

"My husband serves as a security guard, while I manage our household responsibilities, including tending to goats and various chores. We are fortunate to have one child. With my second transfer of $275, I strategically invested in a dairy cow, ensuring a sustainable supply of milk for our family. Furthermore, I enhanced the living conditions of our home by allocating $34 towards wiring in all the rooms, a valuable improvement. To address financial obligations, I repaid a loan amounting to $20. The well-being of our animals was also a priority, with $8 spent on purchasing animal medicine. In addition, I invested in the future by acquiring Mango seeds for $7. Prioritizing our immediate needs, $30 was spent on purchasing essential food items. Demonstrating foresight, $70 was set aside for savings, reflecting our commitment to long-term financial stability. This strategic allocation of funds represents a thoughtful and holistic approach to improving various aspects of our lives."

"I stay with my grandchild, and she keeps me company when school is closed. I feel happy that I won't be lonely until January when she'll be required to go back to school. To make our time together better, I used $50 from the GiveDirectly transfer on food like maize, milk, and beans. Before, I slept on a hard surface covered with old sacks and animal hide. Now, I am grateful because I bought a $130 mattress, and even though I don't have a bed yet, I am enjoying better sleep. I also bought a $20 storage box for packing clothes and important documents making my house organized and getting everything in place. I helped my other grandchildren with $30 for school fees and paid $10 rental charges for the plot where my house is. I have goats, and I spent $20 on deworming medicine for them. I saved the remaining $57 for any urgent needs in my household. I appreciate the support and look forward to what the next transfers can help with."

"I have five children, four of whom are in school right now. My youngest child, who is now 9 months old, has been suffering from heart problems, and I have spent days in the hospital seeking treatment for her. Recently, I have been visiting a referral hospital in Eldoret and buying expensive medicines from a nearby pharmacist, which has stretched my family's finances and prevented me from looking for additional casual jobs because I have been spending most of my time caring for my daughter. With casual labor being scarce and subsistence farming being unsustainable owing to severe weather conditions, I was desperate for any support and was relieved to receive it from GiveDirectly. I made a total payment of $120 on the same day of receipt, which allowed us to be freed from the hospital with some medication that has been helping my child recover since then. I also paid $40 to clear school arrears for my secondary school child, who had been at home for quite some time after being sent to collect the money, which I did not have at the time. I used the rest of the money to buy groceries for my family of seven."