"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a bed and a mattress for my children. With $100, I was able to give them a proper place to sleep. Before this, they had to sleep on a mat on the floor, which became unbearable especially when the floods came. On that night, water flowed right into the house, and they were the first to suffer. Now, they have a bed that keeps them safe and dry, and I feel much more at ease knowing they can sleep comfortably. Next, I used $20 to buy cushions for our seats. The ones we had were very old and had become so uncomfortable that sitting down for even a short while was painful. With the new cushions, our living space feels much more welcoming, and we can sit together as a family without discomfort. I also bought a curtain and a utensil rack for $10. These small additions have made our home feel more organized. Lastly, I spent $30 on clothes for my children since most of what they had was ruined during the floods. I used another $10 to buy household food items, ensuring that we had enough to eat for the coming days. The remaining $5 went to a mason who helped us partition the house, giving us a bit more space and privacy. Every dollar was spent with care, and each purchase has made a significant difference in our lives."

"In the coming year, my biggest hope is to finally get a better bed and a new mattress. Right now, the bed I have is broken, and my mattress is so tattered that it's hard to get a good night's sleep. I want to save little by little so that I can afford a sturdy bed and a comfortable mattress. With each month, I’ll set aside what I can until I have enough to make this happen. I believe that with better rest, I’ll have more energy and peace of mind to face each day and take care of my family."

"I am a mother of four children. We rely on subsistence farming for our livelihood, and my husband works as a cameraman. However, his income is not always enough to meet our needs. With the recent three transfers totaling $102, I knew I had to make decisions that would improve our living conditions and secure our future. First, I invested $27 in buying a goat, bringing the number of goats we own to three. This is a long-term investment that will help us generate income and provide for my children. Then, I spent $11 on food to ensure we had enough to eat. Our living conditions have been tough, and we didn't even have a proper bed. We used to sleep on the ground, using empty sacks as makeshift bedding. With $34 from the transfers, I bought a bed, and with the remaining $30, I purchased a mattress. Now, I sleep well and wake up rested, which has made a big difference in my daily life. These transfers have truly transformed our situation, giving us comfort and hope for a better future."

"When we received the unconditional cash transfer, my husband and I sat down to carefully plan how we would spend it. We prioritized household necessities, and the first thing we did was allocate $58 to buy a 3-seater sofa set. As a young family just starting out, we had been dreaming of replacing our plastic chairs with something more comfortable and welcoming. This sofa set was a significant upgrade for our living space. I then used $60 to purchase a bed and a mattress. This was particularly important for us because we often have siblings visit during the holidays. Having a proper bed for them ensures that they have a comfortable place to rest. After that, I spent $20 on a phone for my husband. This investment has been great in helping us stay connected, especially when he’s away for work. It has made communication between us much easier and more reliable. I used $10 to buy new utensils and $15 to purchase a table, which has made our daily meals more enjoyable. To ensure we had enough food, I spent $17 on half a bag of maize. I am glad that the money has greatly improved our quality of life and brought us a step closer to creating a comfortable and stable home environment."

"With the support from GiveDirectly's first transfer. I allocated $50 towards my son's school fees and $45 for my daughter's fees to reduce their arrears, which initially totaled about $500. Given that I had been depending on charcoal and crop farming for income, losing 2 acres of my 2.5-acre maize crop to floods was devastating. The remaining 0.5 acres are still being harvested, but I expect to get only about 3 bags of maize instead of the 80 bags I had hoped for, leaving me with a $300 loan. Additionally, I spent $64 on a bed and mattress for my children, as they had been sleeping on the floor, which was risky due to snakes. I used the remaining funds to buy food to sustain us for some time. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"To earn a living, my husband and I rely on casual jobs, each earning $4 a day, though these jobs are not always guaranteed. Sometimes we also depend on charcoal production. Our focus has been strictly on basic needs like food and education for our children. With this income, saving or investing in other areas was difficult. In our area, goats thrive, and our home was almost the only one without them, so this was a key investment for diversifying our income. With my first transfer, I prioritized buying two goats worth $100. Additionally, I purchased a mattress for my children, costing $40, as the old one was so worn out that you could feel the bedboard, which was disheartening for me as a mother. I also bought two plastic chairs to add to the two we already had for $12, as it was not enough, especially when we have visitors. Furthermore, I spent $32 on food, specifically maize, which is our staple food and sustained us for some time. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"With the support from GiveDirectly, I was finally able to address some of the most pressing needs in my home using my first transfer. First, I purchased a bed and mattress for my son, costing $62, as he had been sleeping on a worn-out mattress on the floor, which was not only uncomfortable but also dangerous in our snake-prone area. I also bought a bag of maize for $40, as food had become scarce after I lost all my maize to floods, which had been my main source of sustenance and other essentials. To commemorate GiveDirectly’s support and to help diversify our income, I decided to buy a goat for $50, symbolizing our gratitude and offering the potential for future financial stability as the goats multiply. Additionally, I spent $8 on transportation, and with the remaining funds, I bought clothes for my children. It had been a long time since I could afford new clothes, and this was essential, especially after losing some of our belongings to the floods. These improvements have brought us relief and hope. Thank you, GiveDirectly."

"When I received the unconditional cash transfer, the first thing I did was use $70 to buy a new bed and mattress. You see, when the floods came, our home was badly affected, and we lost nearly everything, including our bed and mattress. We had no choice but to rely on the mats we had received from the Red Cross. Having a proper bed again has made a world of difference, providing us with a comfortable place to sleep. Next, I bought three plastic chairs for $21 so my family and I could have somewhere decent to sit. Before the cash transfer, we used to sit on plastic containers, which wasn’t ideal, especially when we had guests. Now, we have proper chairs, which has brought a bit more dignity to our home. With $8, I was also able to buy a new school uniform for my son. His old uniform was swept away during the floods, and I didn’t want him to go to school without proper attire. I then used $30 to buy clothes for my children and myself since our clothing was also lost in the floods. It was important to have something to change into. The remaining $30 went toward buying household food items, which helped us get through the weeks after the disaster. I saved the little that was left to cover any emergencies, like buying milk or other food items. Having this cash transfer has helped me rebuild and provide some comfort for my family during a very difficult time."

"My health has been on a downward trend in recent months. My goal in the coming year and beyond is to save enough money to go for a thorough check-up to understand the root cause of these problems and find the proper solution. After completing the construction of my house, I also plan to purchase a wooden bed and mattress. Currently, I sleep on a sisal bed, which is very uncomfortable. Buying these items will provide me with much-needed comfort whenever I sleep. To achieve these goals, I plan to save enough money from my subsequent transfers and ensure that I can accomplish them."

"When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy a bed and a mattress for $90. The old mattress had been completely destroyed by the floods; it was so dirty that I ended up burning it. For weeks, my family and I had been sleeping on mats provided by the Red Cross, but those were thin and uncomfortable. Finally, with this new bed and mattress, we could rest properly again. With $45 of the money, I bought a subwoofer to bring some joy back into our lives. Music has always been a passion of mine, and having the ability to play it in my home makes everything feel more lively and positive. The sound of music filling our space lifts our spirits, especially after everything we've been through with the floods. I used another $32 to buy a 90kg bag of maize. The previous maize we had was ruined when the floods swept through, causing it to germinate and making it unusable. This new bag will provide us with food for a while. The remaining money covered the cost of transport and lunch when I went to withdraw the funds, ensuring I could complete my errands without any issues."