"I aim to achieve two significant goals with the cash transfers I am receiving. First, I plan to purchase a comfortable mattress to improve my sleep quality and overall well-being. After which, I intend to restart my grocery business. I had started one but had to close because the landlord wanted me out of his premises and later opened his own business, which was eventually passed on to a relative. Determined to revive my grocery business, this time around, I will diversify it and ensure its sustainability and success. I'm grateful for the transfers."

"Life was really hard before. We didn't have nice beds to sleep on. Instead, we had to sleep on uncomfortable mats that hurt our backs. But now, with mattresses, we sleep so much better, and it feels amazing to wake up rested and happy as a family. Before, we didn't have much food, but now we have plenty. Our family is overjoyed. We can finally relax and enjoy our meals together without worrying about where the next one will come from. Our home is full of happiness now. We're not stressed out anymore; instead, we're grateful for everything we have and we cherish every moment we spend together as a family."

"With $40 from the GiveDirectly cash transfers, I was finally able to replace the old, dilapidated mattress my children had been sleeping on for far too long. I then spent $10 to pay school fees for my two children. During this time, my husband's salary had been delayed, making the transfers all the more crucial. To prepare for unforeseen emergencies, I wisely saved $50 in a merry-go-round group, allowing me to accumulate funds and access loans if needed. With only $4 left, I bought food and other household necessities. I am deeply grateful for the transfers, as they have enabled me to make significant improvements to our quality of life. Since receiving them, I've been able to repair our house and even start a poultry farming venture for additional income. Thanks to these transfers, financial struggles have become increasingly rare occurrences for us."

"With the recent cash transfer I received, I paid $25 towards settling the debt on a tailoring machine, an investment for my upcoming tailoring business. I have decided to shift from charcoal burning, which has become less profitable due to the scarcity of trees, to tailoring, a more sustainable business for our family of three children. With $35 from the transfer, I purchased a new mattress to replace our worn-out one. I then bought a goat at $34 for our future income generation. After covering these expenses, I had $8 left, which I spent on buying food for our household. Life has taken a positive turn since we began receiving these transfers. We can now afford essential items and have food, which was a struggle before. I'm deeply thankful for this opportunity, it has enhanced our family's well-being."

"I used $30 to buy a goat. When the transfers end, I wish to have accumulated enough wealth through rearing livestock. This will enable me to support the education of my two children. Personally, I rely on selling palm wine. The earnings from this are just enough for food and not other needs like school fees. So through rearing livestock, I believe that I can accumulate a reliable source of income in the future to cover school fees. I also used $58 to buy a wooden bed. I used to sleep on a sisal-twined bed. The disadvantage with this bed was that I had to replace the ropes every three months because they loosened up and got damaged pretty quickly. The wooden bed is stronger and more durable. I saved $30 through a savings club, and I wish to buy a mattress to fit my wooden bed so that I can have a comfortable sleeping space. I spent another $10 to cover school fees for my children, ensuring that they continued with their education without interruption. I am happy that the transfers have allowed me to provide for needs that previously seemed challenging, like school fees for my children and affording decent furniture."

"I have been saving $10 from my monthly transfers in our merry-go-round group for the past few months. Since I rely mainly on subsistence farming and do not have any source of income, I decided to invest in buying goats. I currently own seven goats and plan to use my savings to buy more when my turn comes. I am also grateful that the monthly transfers have allowed me to adequately provide for my family. I recently had a farming season, but the harvest was very little due to excessive rainfall. I have been relying on subsistence farming to ensure that my family is well-fed, but last season was not successful, and I now have to buy food daily for my family. However, the transfers have been a lifesaver for me because, despite the financial hurdles, my family is well-fed and has enough food to eat. I am at peace with my family because taking three meals a day is no longer a challenge for us. I spent $50 on buying enough foodstuffs, such as maize flour, which was adequate to feed us for weeks. So far, my family is well-fed and has never lacked food, as my household had enough food supplies to serve us for many weeks. In addition to this, I have also longed to purchase a new mattress to replace the old and uncomfortable one that I have been using. After saving a portion of the transfers for the last few months, I finally managed to purchase the mattress for $45. I am now enjoying a comfortable sleep and have peace of mind knowing that I have a good place to sleep."

"Before being enrolled in the Give Directly cash program, I relied heavily on casual jobs such as uprooting tree stumps, burning them, and making charcoal. However, the earnings from these ventures were minimal, making life quite challenging. Since joining the program, my life has undergone a significant transformation. I now own six goats and eight sheep, all acquired with the help of the transfers. With my recent transfers, I allocated $24 to food purchases, ensuring that my family of five never goes hungry. Additionally, I saved $20 in a local savings group formed with close relatives and friends. I intend to use this money to purchase bulls, which will not only help me plow my land but also potentially earn additional income by offering plowing services to others. Given the heavy rains we are currently experiencing, I invested $24 to plow my 1.5-acre land in preparation for planting. Moreover, I fully paid $24 to purchase a mattress that I had been acquiring in installments. Lastly, I spent $10 to purchase two hens, considering them as a future investment since they will multiply, allowing me to sell them and address my needs. I am extremely grateful for the financial support I have received, as it has profoundly changed my life for the better."

"I used to rely on labor-intensive jobs like cutting tree stumps for charcoal and working on farms, which took a toll on my health. However, due to declining health, I had to stop these jobs and now depend on my daughter, who sells palm wine, for support. Three months ago, my traditional sisal twine bed collapsed, leaving me with uncomfortable nights sleeping on the cold floor, only separated by a sack. Determined to improve my sleeping conditions, I decided to invest in a modern wooden bed and mattress. I allocated my three months' worth of transfers, totaling $102, to purchase a new bed for $70 and a mattress for $60. I covered the remaining $28 with my own savings. Now, I am delighted to have comfortable and restful nights on my new bed. This change has significantly improved my quality of life, especially considering the hardships I faced with my previous low-paying jobs. I am grateful for the financial assistance, which has played a crucial role in helping me live more comfortably."

"After my small business collapsed, I was left with no choice but to become a small-scale farmer to make ends meet.  As a subsistence farmer, I rely on farming to ensure food security for myself and my unemployed son. With the quarterly transfers from GiveDirectly, I decided to invest $60 in a savings group, hoping to buy a mattress and add goats once the savings mature. Currently, I only have a bed without a mattress, forcing me to sleep on sacks, which has been causing me back pain therefore, getting a mattress will not only alleviate my back pain but also allow me to spend quality time with my grandchildren when they visit. I also used $40 to buy food and household items since the transfers are my only source of income."

"With $34 from the transfer and $25 from my savings, I finally bought a new mattress. The old one had become so worn out that it was uncomfortable to sleep on, but now, we can rest much better. I also used $30 to repair my house after a strong wind damaged the roof. Despite the repairs, I still feel uneasy sleeping in my mother's house with my three children; it's not how I want us to live. To ensure we had enough to eat, I spent $18 on food since our stock was low. Additionally, I invested $20 to till my land, aiming for food security and extra income for other needs. Thanks to the support from the organization, I've been able to achieve a lot, like buying goats, which means a lot for our future. As a widow and a casual worker making charcoal, alongside subsistence farming, every bit of assistance makes a big difference in ensuring my family's well-being."