Let’s see what kind of choices you make when it’s your turn to be flattened by the economy

[The Straight Story]

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — You’ve lost your job. You’ve lost your house. You’re down to your last $1,000. Can you make it through the month?

Jenny Nicholson is tired of hearing how the poor are poor because they make poor choices. Let’s see what kind of choices you make when it’s your turn to be flattened by the economy.

That’s the idea behind Spent, an online game Nicholson created to challenge popular misconceptions about poverty. Play it at www.playspent.org.

So far, it’s been played more than a million times by people from around the world. And Nicholson is challenging every member of Congress to play it, too. She’s got a petition going at www.petition2congress.com/5008 .

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/poverty-isnt-just-a-game-2011-09-23?link=MW_story_investinginsight

the game:

http://www.playspent.org/

[ellenfl]

1. kick to 'play' later. eom

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. I made it 6 days!

:woohoo:

[dkf]

3. No flash so I can't even play. I guess I made it zero days.

[Proud Public Servant]

4. A related idea I'd like to see here

In 2001 or 2002, when Turkey was in the depths of (yet another) currency crisis and the mania for reality TV was just starting, a Turkish network ran a reality program in which two middle-class couples competed to see which could better make it through the month living on the minimum wage. The premise sounds exploitative (and I suppose the show could have gone that way) but it became one of the most popular shows in the country; struggling Turks tuned in to see their struggle validated, while more comfortable Turks were forced to confront what a scandal the national minimum wage was. It was reality tv as consciousness-raising. I'd really like to see someone do that here.

[valerief]

5. Congress KNOWS the lack of choices people have. THEY DON'T CARE. nt

[Owlet]

6. Well, I made it through the month

with $429 to spare, but made some hard choices. I used the Facebook friend option whenever it came up (my daughter will freak when she gets the messages). It's very sobering to see how people are forced by lack of funds to just do without things that we who are more fortunate take for granted.

One observation: I didn't see much fresh produce on the shopping menu (just apples and baby carrots). Lettuce isn't all that expensive, and if I didn't want to opt for the supermarket, there should have been a choice to hit a farmers' market. I chose to live 'way out of town (cheaper rent, costlier transportation) so it would seem likely that there would be other local food outlets. There are where I live, anyway.

Good game, but I feel for the people who have to make these kinds of decisions in RL on a very limited budget.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. It is called a food desert

:hi:

[MsFlorida]

7. Made it through the month, do you know why?

Because this is how we are living now. We went from me making over $75K a year to unemployment. We are barely hanging on by fingernails.

Unemployment almost makes the house payment. I don't pay anything except what we need to live. (elec, water, house, partial truck payment, internet service, phone).

You may wonder why internet. I negotiated it down to the bare minimum (many, many phone calls) because we need the service because we pick up things out of other peoples' trash, clean them up, fix them and sell them and we need the phone and internet to be able to do this. its the only way we could almost make our bills. We also pick up anything metal out of the trash, strip it down to its basic element and sell that too.

And for food stamps -- I receive a grand whopping total of $15, even though house payment (under 850) and utilities is more than I earn a month through unemployment. So no real help there, but I've learned to not to be proud, $15 is $15.

I'm educated, a professional, have years of experience AND I'm over 50. I've applied and sent out so many resumes it would make your head spin.

[lildreamer316]

8. Hey MsFlorida.

I'm sorry this is all I have to give you: :hug:

[MsFlorida]

9. lildreamer, thank you. sometimes that is enough : )

n/t

[dana_b]

10. I am so sorry and I hope things

turn around for you - quickly!! I don't wonder about the internet, btw. In this day and age it is how people communicate - list jobs, look for work, look for things to trade/pick up on craigslist, etc.

Unfortunately I can also only offer a :hug:

[renate]

16. you are incredibly savvy and resourceful

I'm sorry you have to be. It must be SO much work and SO exhausting.

:hug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Hugs

[Leftist Agitator]

11. K&R

[dana_b]

12. I made it but had to forego health insurance, ignore

creditors, forget about self improvement, eat tons of carbs, a little protein and very little veggies, let my dog suffer (in real life, I guess I'd have it put down - :( ), got sent home for a stained shirt, drove away from an accident, etc. I'd be in jail and totally depressed in actuality and this is what happens to people all of the time. I think this is a good tool.

[dembotoz]

13. why play it when i can live it.

[undeterred]

14. The unemployed buy illegal drugs, congress knows that.

:sarcasm:

[Kalidurga]

15. Luckily in real life I also had child support or this game...

would have been my reality. But, it was still close enough.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Thanks I made it

but obviously the choices were not easy, nor was the food...

And I could have had the salad, but on that pay it was crazee.

[AllyCat]

20. Except she's forgetting that Congress doesn't really give a f*** about real poverty

They are really busy right now making up lies and regurgitating the ones the corporocrats told them to say.