Can you survive on an extreme budget and make tough choices?

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com

– February 15, 2011Posted in: Money

I know some of you are actually struggling with this in real life, but for those of us who are fortunate enough to not have such a situation, I highly recommend you go play SPENT, created by the Urban Ministries of Durham.

The basic premise of the game is simply to budget, make choices, deal with life events and make it to the end of the month.

So you start by getting a job and making decisions:

Based on each decision they give you the reality of what you just chose:

And then you make it to the end of the month.

Out of the 10 times I’ve played, this is my highest score (I realized on the left that I had options of donating plasma for $50 for instance), and some of the choices they gave me were not as tough as on the other times I’ve played.

…but my rent was $800, so I would have been screwed.

Give it a shot.

Play the game SPENT and see how well you do on a super bare bones budget.

This is real life for many people, even some readers of this blog.

It is deciding between things like living far away and hoping your car doesn’t break down, or whether or not to go to a funeral because the travel cost is out of your budget.

For those of us who are fortunate to not have to decide between the gas or electric bill on some months, or whether our kid goes hungry, we should have a renewed sense to take care of our money better and a true sympathy for those in need.

We should be:

Big thanks to Leslie of 27 and Frugal for initially talking about it on Twitter!

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Tags: Budgeting, Charity, Durham, Game, Life, Minimum Wage, Money, Poor, Reality, Saving, Spending, Spent

About the Author

Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver. I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year. Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about my story here, or visit my other blog: The Everyday Minimalist.

http://www.facebook.com/dj4money Anthony Thomas

That was very interesting. Since I’m living on about $450 a month (but live at home = Free Rent) its possible but this is America you social life will suffer for it. But I rather do this, go back to school, already finished A+, going back for MCDST and Network + next month. In fact I’m going to go donate plasma now, 9th time this month =)
Boatchick2

I loved the link to Spent I had my teenager do it as a reality check, I’m proud of his results. I called my sister, a teahcer and she loved it! I think every high schooler should have to run this game a time or three. Thanx
http://www.boomerandecho.com Echo

It was really frustrating to see all of the unexpected expenses keep popping up. I remember being a student in debt and having to make some tough choices to get me through to the end of the month. Now I carefully put together a complete forecast of my income and expenses for the entire year so I know when the house insurance, car maintenance, birthday gifts, etc. are due and I can adjust my budget accordingly.
My recent post Contrary Financial Decisions
http://www.yesiamcheap.com Sandy @ yesiamcheap

My mom was this person when I was growing up. I was on the free lunch program from elementary school all the way through high school. There was a period when I had to pay $0.25 for each meal and couldn't afford it, so I skipped breakfast. I ALWAYS ate at school and I wasn't ashamed about the free lunch. What I was sometimes ashamed of were the holes in my coat if I had one. I often wore sping jackets in the winter and wrapped myself in scarves to keep warm. I played off that I wasn't cold. My sneakers had holes in them and I wore them long after I had clearly outgrown them. There were no older female cousins so I wrote the hand me downs from the boys…I smell a post here. Anyway, I do agree with Kevin. Some things are exaggerated but I do see their point.
My recent post I Added 20K To My Debt On Purpose
http://www.littlehouseinthevalley.com Little House

Many years ago, I lived on the financial edge barely squeaking by. However, I was never at a point where I couldn't pay my bills – I just got really good at juggling. I'll have to check this game out. It sounds like it's very eye-opening.
My recent post Valentines Day Cookie Recipes
http://insomniaclabrat.blogspot.com/ Insomniac Lab Rat

I played this gI played this game a few times, with various results. I've been lucky to never REALLY experience this type of poverty, though money was tight in college.

I didn't find the game to be THAT realistic, because I felt that most of the times I played I had horrible "luck", and most people won't experience that many bad things in such a short time span, but it was a good reminder of what an impact a little bit of bad luck can have on your finances. As others have pointed out, there also wasn't always an option for something I would actually do, but there are obviously constraints when designing a game like this.

When I worked in a coffee shop in high school, I was working with some adults who were working there because it was the only place they could find a job, and I remember them talking about some of the things in this game- missing their kids' games so that they could work, not being able to give their kids treats, presents, etc. It was hard for me to understand, as a 16/17/18 year old kid from a financially secure household.

I thought the game would be a lot easier than it was, so it definitely taught me a lesson! I'm very grateful that I have pretty good job security (for now at least), and have been able to save up a decent emergency fund, so that if any of these things happen to us, we won't have to make such a tough decision. ame a few times
http://confusedbypersonalfinance.com Confused

I played this game a few days ago and like others, it was all too real for me. I never got up to $622 at the end of the month though. Now I wanna go back and play to see what is the highest I can get. I think last time it was $232. Playing this game makes me appreciate the life I have now.
My recent post being brave
Lynn

A frustrating but interesting game. Many attempts and I've reached the end with $822 but with dental problems. Pissed my health insurance wouldn't cover it! I got lucky with the other questions I think (another go got me broke on day 6!)

I can't understand why there seems to be lots of opposition to free universal health care in America. The UK NHS has been good to me!
Minumum wage of £5.93 ($10ish) an hour is a good thing too.
Jaime

This post hits close to home because I make 8.50/hour for a healthcare company as a customer service rep. and I have to survive on a low budget. Last year I made 10k from this job and another temp job I had. This year I only have this job because I have to go to college.

My bf makes around 44k as a programmer without a degree for the same company. For many people having to live on less than 30k is very much a reality, I don't see how this game could be any fun.

I refuse to apply for welfare, I'm pretty sure I could get it but I just would feel too bad about having it. It would just be a new low for my self-esteem. I work very hard to pay my bills on time and go to college without loans. My credit score is in the 700s and I have no consumer debt either. Before I moved out my parents bought me a Kia Spectra that they paid from money saved up in their savings.

I still have that car and its been very reliable so far. it helps that my bf is my roommate and we split bills. Even though he makes a lot more than I do he still has to finish college and college in Nebraska is still expensive even the state college.

Oh and we don't have kids and we don't have pets. That helps a lot too. Anyway yeah, god playing that game would be very depressing. I can't wait to graduate from college! Anyway I'm not saying this to make you feel bad for me, I think I'm doing ok because I know how to budget and avoid debt BUT this isn't my idea of a game, not when this is your real life.
http://youhavemorethanyouthink.org TheyCallMeCheap

This is really cool. I know a few people who'd benefit from it. I've never really been faced with poverty, so the game does provide a different perspective.

Thanks for sharing!
My recent post The 1 Goal Setting Tool for Achieving Your Financial Dreams
http://duurzaam-sparen.blogspot.com/ Oryx

The first time I played Spent, I got to day 23 untill my money ran out. I did not realise you couldn't have a 2 dollar debt, before the next payday. The second time I had 379 dollars left on day 30. I realised people who live like this can't have too much bad luck.. or you're running out of money even faster.

I dediced to put my pet to sleep, instead of paying the $400 bill…, a very hard choice! I did however pay extra tuition and field trips and important things like that for my kids. But the choices are very hard, I sort of got into 'survivor mode'.

The game is a good reminder to value the money and savings you have.
http://www.thousandaire.com Kevin

I thought the game was stupid.

I picked waiting tables and they paid me $8 an hour. I waited tables in high school at Steak n Shake, I sucked at it, and with tips and after taxes I got about $12 an hour. Put me in a nicer restaurant and I'll make $15+. Plus, in real life I can pick up an extra shift to make more money, but the game never asked me if I want to increase my income. In fact, it only put me on the day shift and reduced my income.

I also got a speeding ticket and backed into a car, even though I decided to live as close to work as possible to reduce driving, and I would obviously be a more careful driver if I were living paycheck to paycheck.

That game does a great job of making people feel like a victim when a lot of that stuff is actually under your control.

A kid broke my window and my only options were pay for it or take my landlord to court. What about "Talk to the kid's parents and ask them to pay for it"?

My kid is embarrassed about reduced lunches. My option are give him money or let him go hungry. How about "Talk to my kid about why he should take the lunch"?

I could go on. This game made me very angry.
My recent post Sorry China America is Number One

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

Hey I hear that. But sometimes people don\’t have that kind of logic or rationality to do what you are proposing, or they simply don\’t have the choice.

Obviously you would try to avoid all of the situations, but things happen. I think they tried to make it as tough as possible so that you can also see their thought process in how they view situations that others (like you) might see differently.

The lunch one did annoy me. I\’d be quite angry if my kid threw that free lunch back in my face like a slap. Food is food, and if it\’s free why not? I\’d have my kids be PROUD of having free food, or at least making ends meet. Makes \’em tougher.

Brooke

The free lunch thing definitely annoyed me, for a couple of reasons. First of all, if the kid had the luxury of saying no to the free lunch and "going hungry," I'm going to assume that meant that were probably at least some food at home for breakfast and lunch. Given that there are some kids whose *only* decent meal might be the school lunch (to the point that kids hoard food to take home on weekends, some schools have programs to send children home with backpacks of food for winter break, and some communities offer programs to make sure kids get a hot meal over summer vacation)… well, my attitude to the kid would be "Fine, go hungry."

That said, I would also be annoyed at the school for figuring out a way of handling it more delicately. If the government is giving schools the money to make sure that these kids eat, then the schools should figure out a way to create a situation where the kids don't feel stigmatized for taking advantage of it.

http://yuppieinthecity.blogspot.com/ Kim

I lasted till day 6 on my server's salary. I failed the typing test so I couldn't be a temp, and I figured being a warehouse worker will bring me expensive medical bills I cannot afford. I thought I was being smart by choosing to live further away from the city centre and having a garage sale instead of renting storage when my apartment was too small. What got to me was when the family pet was sick, and I had the choice between paying $400 for treatment, $50 to have it put to sleep, or $0 to let it suffer. I have a pet myself who needs an expensive dental appointment soon, it'll cost $500 minimun. Although I live on a tight budget, with careful planning my cat will have his dental appointment. To be in a situation where I have to let my pet suffer to to put him to sleep would really break my heart. This was a real eye-opener.
My recent post 20 Financial milestones for your 20s and my personal financial goals for my 20s

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

Yes, the pet one was hard, but.. kind of moot for me because I can\’t ever own pets. Still, it made you feel awful.

financialuproar

It makes me glad I live in Canada, where I don't have to worry about health insurance. That definitely makes life easier.
My recent post Saturday Morning Dump- Links o’ Flannigan

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

Amen.
Jaime

Currently I make 10k in the U.S. while I go to college, I live with my bf and we split expenses so its not as bad as it sounds. No welfare either. But I still don't want socialized healthcare. The problem with "free" healthcare and "free" education is that all taxpayers pay for it, which makes taxes higher, so its really not "free."

I also read that in Europe if you mess up your chances of going to college in your teens, you can't really go as an adult later on in life, but you still pay high taxes for all the socialized programs. Also why do so many Canadian doctors come to the U.S. to practice? Why do famous people from socialized countries come to the U.S. to get healthcare?

I vote no for socialized healthcare and I can't even afford health insurance. I don't want Obamacare either, its unconstitutional. Freedom is the right to choose for yourself without the government forcing it on their people. Although I'm afraid the U.S. is much more socialized than Americans want to admit it is. :-/

EllieDi

As someone who lives on a meagre budget, this game really hit home. I suspect the only reason we don't fail month-to-month, like I did in the game, is because we don't have any children and my husband has OHIP (although I don't). If it weren't for those factors, we'd really be up that creek you get up without a paddle. I've become very judicious and frankly cheap in the last couple of years, which has served us pretty well. But heaven forbid I get pregnant – aside from the obvious, it really would change everything.
My recent post Why We’re Not Celebrating Valentine’s Day

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

Oh for sure. It\’s an eye opening experience to be hit with events so often and your budget to take a hit. Can\’t plan for the unexpected.

Emma

It took several times, but I made it to the end of the month with money left to pay rent, but it meant that my kid didn't get to go on field trips or join an after school activity, and I dealt with pain for a root canal. Not really the life I imagine wanting to live.

I do know I wouldn't want to work in a factory for $9 an hour though.

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

It really puts your life into perspective, I agree.

J.

That is a really interesting game/website, and it really drives home how tough some decisions can be. I stuffed up my first two goes because I didn't realise you couldn't go into the negatives, which is a hard reality that not everyone is fortunate enough to have adequate savings to buffer. The third go I barely got out with $260 and had to face a lot of tough decisions I'd never considered before. Thanks for sharing this!

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

Yes, the beginning says ALL your savings are gone, and it even forces you to go to Facebook to see if you can really find true friends who would help you out or let you couch surf!

http://tobedebtfreeby30.blogspot.com Niki

I played this game the other day, the first time I played I got through the month, but not the second. It just goes to show you never know what type of an emergency or circumstance will pop up. I remember hearing someone say that most families are only one financial catastrophe away from losing it all. That has statement has always resonated with me,

http://www.FabulouslyBroke.com FabulouslyBroke.com

That is very true, especially in the States with the level (or lack of) universal healthcare.

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