Could you make it with $1,000?

justsie · August 2015

I ran across this online, its a chose your option "game" where you are faced with poverty. You start with 1000 for the month and move on from there, and you *only* have to last the month. I made it to day 24, but had to make some scary/sad decisions to make it there. If you try it let me know where you ended up? I'm really curious!

http://playspent.org/html/

PamBeesly524 · August 2015

Interesting.. I made it to the end with $43 to spare but like you said, I made decisions that I wouldn't make now given the fact that i have the $$$ to cover it. Other things were no brainers (stay home instead of pay a babysitter), but would also impact quality of life.

teddygirl9 · August 2015

It keeps freezing on my computer. I'm currenly on day 22 w/ 312 left over. It won't let me go any farther than the rent gets raised scenario.

julieanne912 · August 2015

OK I tried it once, and tapped out on day 10 because I hit someone's car and paid for it.

I did it again and made it through with $37 to spare, because I skipped the expensive dental work.

Sadly, I've been in a similar position. I made 6 figures in 2007. In 2008 I made $28,000 and burned through all my savings, while living in Chicago. So yeah, kind of been there. You learn some good survival skills when that happens, that's for sure.

sparklepants41 · August 2015

I made it through the month with $221 left! But I too had to make scary decisions - and I lost my job and probably didn't buy enough groceries.

Thank you for posting this game - it really opened my eyes to the difficult real-life choices many have to make in order to make ends meet & survive.

kvruns · August 2015

That was interesting, although I think part of my answers were more in anticipation of what the next question would be as opposed to what I would do in that situation. For instance on health insurance I figured if I said no coverage then the next question would pop up that I broke my arm or something vs choosing an insurance plan and paying that monthly cost.

pinkcow13 · August 2015

Wow, this was interesting. I made it with $381 left over, BUT I didn't pay my car insurance NOR did I pay to update my registration. I skippped the root canal, skipped something else going on with my car, and have a strike on my work record. I also started getting calls from bill collectors apparently. Sooo yea... not so great for the long run.

sparklepants41 · August 2015

kvruns said:

That was interesting, although I think part of my answers were more in anticipation of what the next question would be as opposed to what I would do in that situation. For instance on health insurance I figured if I said no coverage then the next question would pop up that I broke my arm or something vs choosing an insurance plan and paying that monthly cost.

Yes - that's what I did - I was afraid to fix the car I hit, and whenever there was an option to ask a friend, I chose that one because I felt if I didn't then the next scenario I was faced with would be super expensive.

[Deleted User] · August 2015

I made it to the end with $90 to spare, but tough choices. Also, some of this was a little weird.

When you work somewhere, and you drop a glass vase, they rarely make you pay for it; that's what insurance is for.

Also, it "surprises" you with things that I would have looked into before spending the money on them.

Sadly, I've been pretty close to this state when I left my ex b/f. It really does take making a lot of hard choices. You don't go places and do things, you eat cheap. You try to sock away $5 in emergency money and end up having to use it. It's sad.

novella1186 · August 2015

pinkcow13 said:

Wow, this was interesting. I made it with $381 left over, BUT I didn't pay my car insurance NOR did I pay to update my registration. I skippped the root canal, skipped something else going on with my car, and have a strike on my work record. I also started getting calls from bill collectors apparently. Sooo yea... not so great for the long run.

This was pretty much how that worked out for me too.

That was actually kind of stressful. I went through a bad phase after college where I was underemployed and I had to make decisions like that; not get my car fixed, only eat ramen for a few days, not go out, or go out to the bar that has free hot dogs cuz that's my only chance at dinner, etc. It got to the point that I couldn't pay rent anymore and ended up moving in with my parents, which sucked cuz I don't get along with my dad but I still consider myself extremely lucky cuz I'm well aware that a lot of people don't have parents (or other family, or whoever) to fall back on. That was a sad sad game

thefanciestbeckler · August 2015

I made it. But I also made choices I wouldn't make in real life, like driving away after rear-ending someone, not renewing my tags, not paying my student loan or credit card bills, etc. This was really interesting to me.

pinkcow13 · August 2015

novella1186 said:

pinkcow13 said:

Wow, this was interesting. I made it with $381 left over, BUT I didn't pay my car insurance NOR did I pay to update my registration. I skippped the root canal, skipped something else going on with my car, and have a strike on my work record. I also started getting calls from bill collectors apparently. Sooo yea... not so great for the long run.

This was pretty much how that worked out for me too.

That was actually kind of stressful. I went through a bad phase after college where I was underemployed and I had to make decisions like that; not get my car fixed, only eat ramen for a few days, not go out, or go out to the bar that has free hot dogs cuz that's my only chance at dinner, etc. It got to the point that I couldn't pay rent anymore and ended up moving in with my parents, which sucked cuz I don't get along with my dad but I still consider myself extremely lucky cuz I'm well aware that a lot of people don't have parents (or other family, or whoever) to fall back on. That was a sad sad game

Yea, it is really eye opening. Especially when you think of those that don't have help from parents and or friends.

The question that got me was the one with the sick pet. $400 to go to the vet, $50 to put the pet to sleep, or just let them suffer. I chose to take them to the vet, but in real life, and with a kid (like in the scenario presented), this probably would not have been the feasible option to choose.

kvruns · August 2015

also the insurance nerd in me doesn't like their insurance options. Someone making the wages I was given ($9 hr for 40 hours a week) would qualify for a subsidy on the exchange or if the company offered insurance it would be cheaper than the options given (or if not then I would still get a subsidy) so I think that was a bit unfair in those choices since they weren't realistic

justsie · August 2015

You guys had similar thoughts to me. A lot of choices I wouldn't have made if I was making the money I currently am. I also made choices in anticipation, which I typically don't have to do (mainly because I have savings, so if something came up, I could afford it). I agree that while not going out and saving that money was a no-brainer, doing that 100% of the time would get tough at some point.

@teddygirl9 I'm sorry it kept freezing on you! I never got that option, so maybe it is the option that causes the freeze?

I played it a second time and made it through with just under $300, and then it popped up that rent was due next month and I was like "Damn. Can't catch a break."

Sorry to bum everyone out on hump day!!

justsie · August 2015

kvruns said:

also the insurance nerd in me doesn't like their insurance options. Someone making the wages I was given ($9 hr for 40 hours a week) would qualify for a subsidy on the exchange or if the company offered insurance it would be cheaper than the options given (or if not then I would still get a subsidy) so I think that was a bit unfair in those choices since they weren't realistic

When I was making $10/hr I was offered a subsidy, but the total cost was about $300 a month still. I think the options given were pretty in line for what my cost was. I know in some areas the offerings are different (for example, I was living in one city but anticipating a move in a few months. The employee that helped me suggest I go ahead and put my new address and go to providers there because the area offered the subsidy, vs the place I was moving from that didn't). I wasn't offered company insurance because I was a temp employee.

AddieCake · August 2015

I made it 20 days.

lyndausvi · August 2015

I made it day 23.

Like others I anticipated some of the next answers and choose accordingly. I also would not do certain things is real life. Like take a waitress job 50 miles away to save on rent. Waitress jobs are fairly plentiful and chances are good you could find one in the town with the lower rents, thus saving on transportation costs.

I've waited tables on and off for many years. I've never made less than $15 an hour. Actually I average more like $20-25. I was surprised the average hourly rate was only $8 per hour.

Overall it was a good lesson on tough choices people have to make every day.

redheadbride15 · August 2015

I made it with $500 left but my car was taken away and I lost my job. And I was a super-bitch who denied her kid everything and asked my friend's for help all the time.

kvruns · August 2015

justsie said:

kvruns said:

also the insurance nerd in me doesn't like their insurance options. Someone making the wages I was given ($9 hr for 40 hours a week) would qualify for a subsidy on the exchange or if the company offered insurance it would be cheaper than the options given (or if not then I would still get a subsidy) so I think that was a bit unfair in those choices since they weren't realistic

When I was making $10/hr I was offered a subsidy, but the total cost was about $300 a month still. I think the options given were pretty in line for what my cost was. I know in some areas the offerings are different (for example, I was living in one city but anticipating a move in a few months. The employee that helped me suggest I go ahead and put my new address and go to providers there because the area offered the subsidy, vs the place I was moving from that didn't). I wasn't offered company insurance because I was a temp employee.

True it will depend on where someone lives and prices can vary widely by there and depending on if Medicaid was expanded in their state or not. Also just realized I thought they were quoting it per paycheck not per month so that is better! Although if you were a household of 1 when you did it that is different than the household of 2 in the Spent thing since $9/hour for household of 2 puts you barely above Federal Poverty Level ($15,930) so you should get a nice subsidy.

but like the other questions in there obviously what ifs and I know they can't make every situation or amount fit real life

kvruns · August 2015

redheadbride15 said:

I made it with $500 left but my car was taken away and I lost my job. And I was a super-bitch who denied her kid everything and asked my friend's for help all the time.

LOL that was basically me the first time too, although I didn't lose my job but I think I had health problems I ignored

littlemushroom · August 2015

I finished the month with $268.

I chose to live close to work so I could walk, since I didn't gain much savings living super far away. The only things I didn't do was pay my student loan and I drove away from the parked car I hit. But I would have paid that student loan at the end of the month since I had the money left over.

I took the Bronze insurance, went to the doctor, paid for my kid to do all his stuff, got a bunch of groceries, paid the $400 vet bill, went out with my friends, renewed my tags, etc. I chose to apply for the gifted program scholarship for the kid, but would have just paid the $50 if I knew I had to miss work to do so. I still had my job at the end.

MyNameIsNot · August 2015

lyndausvi said:

I made it day 23.

Like others I anticipated some of the next answers and choose accordingly. I also would not do certain things is real life. Like take a waitress job 50 miles away to save on rent. Waitress jobs are fairly plentiful and chances are good you could find one in the town with the lower rents, thus saving on transportation costs.

I've waited tables on and off for many years. I've never made less than $15 an hour. Actually I average more like $20-25. I was surprised the average hourly rate was only $8 per hour.

Overall it was a good lesson on tough choices people have to make every day.

I thought that too, but then I thought about people I've known who worked at places that don't serve alcohol. They tend to earn much less than I did. If you live in a dry area or you can't serve alcohol for some reason, $8-10/hour might be reality at least starting out.

I also know that part of the reason I did very well is because I looked polished and I was knowledgeable about food and wine. I don't expect that the typical person who is living this scenario necessarily has that going for them out of the gate.

ETA: I got errors on chrome twice, but I made it to day 23 with $281. Still, I would never have pocketed that $10 in real life.

julieanne912 · August 2015

lyndausvi said:

I made it day 23.

Like others I anticipated some of the next answers and choose accordingly. I also would not do certain things is real life. Like take a waitress job 50 miles away to save on rent. Waitress jobs are fairly plentiful and chances are good you could find one in the town with the lower rents, thus saving on transportation costs.

I've waited tables on and off for many years. I've never made less than $15 an hour. Actually I average more like $20-25. I was surprised the average hourly rate was only $8 per hour.

Overall it was a good lesson on tough choices people have to make every day.

The one reason I didn't take the waitress job was because I noticed the hours were weekdays between 2 and 5pm. I would imagine that would be the worst possible shift to have.

cupcait927 · August 2015

julieanne912 said:

lyndausvi said:

I made it day 23.

Like others I anticipated some of the next answers and choose accordingly. I also would not do certain things is real life. Like take a waitress job 50 miles away to save on rent. Waitress jobs are fairly plentiful and chances are good you could find one in the town with the lower rents, thus saving on transportation costs.

I've waited tables on and off for many years. I've never made less than $15 an hour. Actually I average more like $20-25. I was surprised the average hourly rate was only $8 per hour.

Overall it was a good lesson on tough choices people have to make every day.

The one reason I didn't take the waitress job was because I noticed the hours were weekdays between 2 and 5pm. I would imagine that would be the worst possible shift to have.

That was just the time to go in and apply for the job. I did one scenario where I took the waitress job and it seems that you start out on the evening shift, but then you are moved to days and earn less.

One thing I didn't notice - what about the cost of daycare or babysitters? The scenario assumes you have a child (or children) but there's nothing that deals with the cost of childcare, which is a HUGE chunk of money for parents. Even if you have a school aged child, if you're working a second shift job, you need someone to watch your kid. Not everyone has family or friends that can do that.

lyndausvi · August 2015

julieanne912 said:

The one reason I didn't take the waitress job was because I noticed the hours were weekdays between 2 and 5pm. I would imagine that would be the worst possible shift to have.

well that is another point. Restaurants would not have 2-5 shift anyway. It's the slowest time, a lot of places do not even serve during that time. If they did the lunch person would work until 3-4 and/or the dinner person would come in between 3-4. 3 hours shifts are not common anyway. So I'm not really sure that is a real life situation.

MyNameIsNot said:

.

good point about being dry. Although I would never live in a dry area, so it's not something I would even think about.

Although I've worked breakfast/lunch place before. Very little alcohol sold. I made great money from pure volume. Worked my ass off too.

julieanne912 · August 2015

cupcait927 said:

julieanne912 said:

lyndausvi said:

I made it day 23.

Like others I anticipated some of the next answers and choose accordingly. I also would not do certain things is real life. Like take a waitress job 50 miles away to save on rent. Waitress jobs are fairly plentiful and chances are good you could find one in the town with the lower rents, thus saving on transportation costs.

I've waited tables on and off for many years. I've never made less than $15 an hour. Actually I average more like $20-25. I was surprised the average hourly rate was only $8 per hour.

Overall it was a good lesson on tough choices people have to make every day.

The one reason I didn't take the waitress job was because I noticed the hours were weekdays between 2 and 5pm. I would imagine that would be the worst possible shift to have.

That was just the time to go in and apply for the job. I did one scenario where I took the waitress job and it seems that you start out on the evening shift, but then you are moved to days and earn less.

One thing I didn't notice - what about the cost of daycare or babysitters? The scenario assumes you have a child (or children) but there's nothing that deals with the cost of childcare, which is a HUGE chunk of money for parents. Even if you have a school aged child, if you're working a second shift job, you need someone to watch your kid. Not everyone has family or friends that can do that.

Oh I see, I must have misread. I did both the shift work job and the office temp job. I lost my office temp job because some full time coworkers were talking smack about me and I confronted them about it and they got me fired.

The childcare part is a very good point. If you're working 12-7, who is watching the kids from 3 or 4-7? I guess that's an issue many parents face.

lyndausvi · August 2015

julieanne912 said:

cupcait927 said:

julieanne912 said:

lyndausvi said:

I made it day 23.

Like others I anticipated some of the next answers and choose accordingly. I also would not do certain things is real life. Like take a waitress job 50 miles away to save on rent. Waitress jobs are fairly plentiful and chances are good you could find one in the town with the lower rents, thus saving on transportation costs.

I've waited tables on and off for many years. I've never made less than $15 an hour. Actually I average more like $20-25. I was surprised the average hourly rate was only $8 per hour.

Overall it was a good lesson on tough choices people have to make every day.

The one reason I didn't take the waitress job was because I noticed the hours were weekdays between 2 and 5pm. I would imagine that would be the worst possible shift to have.

That was just the time to go in and apply for the job. I did one scenario where I took the waitress job and it seems that you start out on the evening shift, but then you are moved to days and earn less.

One thing I didn't notice - what about the cost of daycare or babysitters? The scenario assumes you have a child (or children) but there's nothing that deals with the cost of childcare, which is a HUGE chunk of money for parents. Even if you have a school aged child, if you're working a second shift job, you need someone to watch your kid. Not everyone has family or friends that can do that.

Oh I see, I must have misread. I did both the shift work job and the office temp job. I lost my office temp job because some full time coworkers were talking smack about me and I confronted them about it and they got me fired.

The childcare part is a very good point. If you're working 12-7, who is watching the kids from 3 or 4-7? I guess that's an issue many parents face.

childcare is a big issue in the hospitality world. Customer needs and child care needs are opposite hours. People check into hotels after 4pm. They eat dinner between 6-9pm. Daycare are generally from 7am until 6pm, and then they start charging you for every 15 minutes you are late.

I always said a good business would be a daycare with longer hours to accommodate hospitality people. I do not like kids enough to start one though.

kvruns · August 2015

childcare is a big issue in the hospitality world. Customer needs and child care needs are opposite hours. People check into hotels after 4pm. They eat dinner between 6-9pm. Daycare are generally from 7am until 6pm, and then they start charging you for every 15 minutes you are late.

I always said a good business would be a daycare with longer hours to accomendate hospitality people. I do not like kids enough to start one though.

I've heard of 24 hour day care few times around here (Indianapolis). I don't think it is very common but I always figured it was to account for those families with parents working nights or at least non traditional day care hours. Would be good to have more of those options available

lyndausvi · August 2015

kvruns said:

childcare is a big issue in the hospitality world. Customer needs and child care needs are opposite hours. People check into hotels after 4pm. They eat dinner between 6-9pm. Daycare are generally from 7am until 6pm, and then they start charging you for every 15 minutes you are late.

I always said a good business would be a daycare with longer hours to accommodate hospitality people. I do not like kids enough to start one though.

I've heard of 24 hour day care few times around here (Indianapolis). I don't think it is very common but I always figured it was to account for those families with parents working nights or at least non traditional day care hours. Would be good to have more of those options available

weekend too.

onefootinthebayou · August 2015

TLDR and I don't have time to play the game but if the subject of this is "the working poor", which I suspect it is, I have a great book to recommend. Nickel & Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich On (not) getting by in America. It's a great read and is extremely eye-opening. I hate that the term "working poor" even exists. It breaks my heart that people work day in and day out and just can't get ahead, caught in an endless cycle of poverty. I think I read this book 12 years ago, maybe more and it had a major impact.

http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0312626681

PamBeesly524 · August 2015

onefootinthebayou said:
TLDR and I don't have time to play the game but if the subject of this is "the working poor", which I suspect it is, I have a great book to recommend. Nickel & Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich On (not) getting by in America. It's a great read and is extremely eye-opening. I hate that the term "working poor" even exists. It breaks my heart that people work day in and day out and just can't get ahead, caught in an endless cycle of poverty. I think I read this book 12 years ago, maybe more and it had a major impact.

http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0312626681

This is a FANTASTIC book and exactly what this exercise reminded me of! You also just reminded me that I loaned that book to my super pessimistic, super classist Economics professor in college to prove a point and he never gave it back! I'd like to think it's because he was so busy reading it but he probably just used it for toilet paper.

Could you make it with $1,000?

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