VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Many people in the Lower Mainland are living on a tight budget and they aren’t on welfare.

News1130′s Andrea Macpherson is on Day 6 of the Welfare Food Challenge, and has been interacting with people on Twitter about what it’s like to live on $26 worth of food a week.

(Andrea’s crepes on Day 6 of the Welfare Food Challenge)

DAY 6 – Interaction on Twitter

Perhaps not too surprisingly, people seem to have many different opinions about this challenge.

One person following my progress on Twitter tweeted me that the welfare diet is a “great diet for losing weight.” Another indicates that the welfare challenge wasn’t a challenge at all — it was just called growing up.

A person on Twitter, @SurreyTrnsPlnt, tweeted me to say they once lived off of $40 for two weeks. They said they ate a lot of Chinese noodles and frozen peas.

Another person tweeted, “Welfare challenge? I lived on it for 5 horrible years awaiting disability. Would not wish on worst enemy, truly.”

Twitter has also been good for recipe advice, coupon tips and sometimes some much-needed encouragement.

Six days down, one more to go. The countdown to Sunday is on.

You can follow Andrea’s progress at News1130.com or on Twitter @AMacOnAir