"I operate a small grocery business as my primary source of income. With the recent hike in food commodities, the business has not been doing well because my profit margins have decreased. This is due to the high prices at which I purchase the commodities and the little sales I make. My customers now choose to forego meals as they can no longer afford 3 square meals a day. Being my primary source of income, I also rely on the business for all my financial needs which means I take out more than make. For these reasons, the business was diminishing so I used some of the transfers received within the past few months to stabilize it by adding more stock and bringing in new commodities. I have also been saving part of my monthly transfers in a local savings group with the aim of starting another business next year. My children have also been beneficiaries of these transfers as their school needs are well taken care of such as school fee payments and the purchase of school items such as school uniforms."

"The transfer will be of good help, we need a separate house from the children. A two-roomed whole rounded iron sheet is enough. Iron sheets lasts longer and cannot be eaten by termites. We plan to use about $500 for this house. If possible later, we can source other funds to cement the floor. It's expensive constructing a house. Investing in goats is a marvelous idea, they do well under the scorching sun. They just need enough water, medicine and little pasture. We'll buy about 10 goats at a cost of $300. This means we can have something to support our family in the future. Goat prices are good around here. Chicken also do well, we need to invest about $50. They will supplement our food and solve small emergencies. On big cock can be sold for $10. Additionally, we don't have enough household items like clothes, food stuff and utensils. I plan to use about $300 to buy this items. This means we can relax with my wife not worrying about many things. Our children will also be looking good."

"In February we leased a half an acre piece of land and grew maize in the nearby farms next to Wasekes River where there are irrigation farms. We were lucky that the crops did well, we have started harvesting and we expect a bumper harvest. This means that the issue of food insecurity that we have been grappling with will be a thing of the past, we can now breathe a sigh of relief and have a temporary reprieve from the struggle of having to buy the commodity at high prices. We are so elated and certain about the future now that we will have an easy time and only concentrate on looking for school fees."

"As my four children are gradually growing up, it's becoming less suitable for them to share sleeping quarters with me, as my need for privacy is not being met. My intention is to construct an additional room to provide separate sleeping spaces. Alongside this, I have aspirations to invest in acquiring livestock, which will serve as a valuable asset in the future for covering educational expenses for my children. I am sincerely thankful for the assistance we've received, which has ensured that my family never goes to bed hungry during times when we've had to purchase food at significantly inflated prices from local shops."

"The last 4 months were very tough as we faced a serious famine season that we have not experienced in a long time. Food prices especially maize which is our staple food spiked and was not easily available. Due to this, most of my transfers within those months were entirely spent on foodstuff and other basic household items. The situation was worsened by the fact that I could not engage in other income generating activities as I had to spend most of my time cultivating my farm hoping for a bumper harvest after multiple seasons of failed rains and poor harvests. I was also forced to purchase foodstuff on credit leaving me with a lot of debts which I have been struggling to clear. With part of my most recent transfer, I paid part of the debt ($10) then saved the rest which I will use to pay part of my children's school fees when schools reopen for the next term. I have 3 children in secondary school and due to the tough economic times I experienced in the past months, I have not been able to pay their school fees promptly. For this reason, when they resume school next week, I know they will be sent back home, so I plan on giving them a small amount each for their fees to allow them stay in school while I do my best to raise the rest of the money. This is why I saved part of the money which added to some savings from my business, will go along way in ensuring my children remain in school."

"Food insecurity is a big concern. We plan to buy food worth $50. It can support us for about a month, we harvested some maize. Hence we may not need to buy all food consumables. We also intend to buy other household necessities like clothes for our children, bedding, and chairs. It will cost approximately $100. We also have 3 children in school. Both are in secondary school. I will use about $400 for their school fees. This means they can settle well and study without stress in school. Investment is also important, goats do well here. They expand faster and fetch good prices when well-fed. We plan to use $300 to buy 6 goats. It's a future investment and security. Additionally, I need to grow some mangoes and pawpaws. They will supplement my income. I need to also secure the farm. Fencing and growing it will cost about $200. In 3 years, they will mature. Hence I will be selling them to support my family. Mangoes are sold twice a year. One mature mango tree can fetch $150 annually. I plan to plant 12 mangoes. That will assist me a lot in the future."

"At times, I rely on my son’s financial support, but lately, he has been facing challenges with his children's school fees and his income as a long-distance truck driver. His earnings are often not enough to cover all the family's expenses for the entire month, which leaves us struggling, especially with buying food. Sometimes, we even have to rely on porridge to get through the night. I used to make charcoal as a way to contribute to household expenses, but the physical demands of the job took a toll on my health, so I had to stop. So, every time I receive the cash transfers, my goal has been to save up and buy a goat whenever I can. I have managed to buy three goats so far, which I plan to continue rearing. However, after the recent transfer, the rising food prices made it difficult for me to allocate funds for a goat. As a result, I used the entire transfer amount to buy food for my family. I am grateful that this helped us have enough meals until we recently harvested our crops."

"I have been grappling with water scarcity issues in my household, particularly during the dry seasons when we are compelled to purchase water from vendors at high prices. In order to tackle this predicament, I've harboured a longstanding desire to procure a 1000-liter water tank, which will cost approximately $500. To achieve this goal, I committed to setting aside a minimum of $10 per month for this purpose. I am pleased that I have made significant progress in this endeavor thus far, as my accumulated savings have reached $200. I am hoping to buy this water tank soon so that I will not have to pay for water elsewhere. After completing my savings goal, I used the remaining funds to purchase necessary food supplies. I am pleased that my family's nutritional needs were consistently met, and we were able to enjoy three meals per day without experiencing any hardship or food shortage in my home."

"I allocated the transfers to address some pressing needs that have been weighing on me. With a chain link worth $120 and posts costing $150, I created a protective barrier around my farm. Previously, my farm was exposed, and goats from the neighborhood would come and spoil my crops, especially my pawpaw and vegetables. Now, with a sturdy fence in place, I can cultivate my crops without worry, knowing they are safe from any potential damage. To address our water needs, I decided to add another water tank, costing $15, to my existing one. Water is a precious resource, and having an additional tank allows me to store more water, ensuring a steady and reliable supply for my family's daily needs. Feeding six children has been challenging, considering the rising food prices. With $90, I purchased enough food to keep them well nourished. It brings me peace of mind to know that my children won't go to bed hungry, and I no longer have to depend solely on casual jobs, which can be unreliable. Investing in education is of utmost importance to me, and I set aside $75 for my two children in secondary school and one in polytechnic. Education is a gateway to a better future, and I am determined to support my children in their pursuit of knowledge and a brighter tomorrow. The transfers have been a life saver for my family, providing us with the means to address immediate needs and work towards a more stable future."

"While I was working on the farm, I received an unexpected message that filled me with joy. It was about receiving a significant amount of transfers from GiveDirectly, the likes of which I had never experienced before. I decided to finish up my tasks quickly so I could head back home and make use of the wonderful news. The first thing that came to my mind was to use the money to buy food for my family. Our home area has a challenging environment, and food is often sold at very high prices. So, I had to travel to another place where I could find more affordable options to make the most of the money I received. The thought of being able to provide my family with sufficient food brought me immense happiness. It's a basic necessity, and I wanted to ensure they have enough to eat without constantly worrying about the high costs."