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Park the Escalade in the garage (be thankful you even have a garage), put down the double latte Mocha Cinnamon Creme de la Michele, shelve the copy of Conde Nast, turn off the vibrating electric leather recliner, snuff out the Rush Limbaugh Signature cigar, and see if you could do what millions in the US do, and have been doing for decades - live on $9 an hour!



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SPENT


By Allison Linn
Most Americans know the facts about low-wage work, but many have been lucky enough to avoid actually having to live on $8 or $9 an hour.

A computer game called Spent gives you the opportunity to see what it would be like to walk in a poor person’s shoes.

The game, by an advertising firm called McKinney and Urban Ministries of Durham, N.C., starts with a choice: Would you like to be a server, a warehouse worker or a temp?

From there, the choices get more difficult.

Should you pay to get your pet medical care, or let the animal suffer?

Should you go to the dentist or suffer yourself and save some bucks?

Should you let your child and a friend get ice cream, or do you need that $5 for bills?

The game is interspersed with facts about the choices people with very little money are making every day, and the consequences of those choices.

Want to see how well you could manage your money on a very low wage?

That's pretty cool. I allowed my kid to play ball & join the gifted program at school. Unfortuantely, I had to ask a friend to take the dog. I was left with $690 at end of month which isn't far from the disposable income I currently have at end of month. So what's the problem?

Appaholic wrote:That's pretty cool. I allowed my kid to play ball & join the gifted program at school. Unfortuantely, I had to ask a friend to take the dog. I was left with $690 at end of month which isn't far from the disposable income I currently have at end of month. So what's the problem?

That you abandoned a valued family member - the dog.

D1B wrote:

Appaholic wrote:That's pretty cool. I allowed my kid to play ball & join the gifted program at school. Unfortuantely, I had to ask a friend to take the dog. I was left with $690 at end of month which isn't far from the disposable income I currently have at end of month. So what's the problem?

That you abandoned a valued family member - the dog.

That I made a responsible choice between my child's development and the family pet.....who I can now go get from my friend and use part of the $690 left over to reimburse said friend for his accomodating us in a tight situation. I know you may have a hard time understanding "responsible choices" and paying your way considering what you mentor on a daily basis...

That money left over will just cover your bills and maybe it won't.

Cap'n Cat wrote:That money left over will just cover your bills and maybe it won't.

According to the game, I paid my bills...$225.00. So, again, we are back to the old adage, "It's not what you make, but what you do with what you make...."

Through D1B, I've met some of these "scum", Appy, and they about making bad decisions. Life gets in the way and the most vulnerable pay. Hard to go to school or train for a job when you're worried your crackhead baby's father is gonna come and kill you and your kids. You don't know each individual story and it's unfortunate you follow the patent Conk response and blanket them to damnation.

Appaholic wrote:

Cap'n Cat wrote:That money left over will just cover your bills and maybe it won't.

According to the game, I paid my bills...$225.00. So, again, we are back to the old adage, "It's not what you make, but what you do with what you make...."

Food? You pay the car insurance? Kids need anything for school? What if your tranny fell out? Entertainment? Can the kids go to the amusement park or are they stuck in the squalid living room watching SpongeBob all day? Ain't a lot of money, man, and no chance to save.

Since you're making $9 an hour, did the game designers factor in the food assistance money, low income medical coupons, gas vouchers, etc. that come with poverty level jobs?

Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt

Cap'n Cat wrote:Through D1B, I've met some of these "scum", Appy, and they about making bad decisions. Life gets in the way and the most vulnerable pay. Hard to go to school or train for a job when you're worried your crackhead baby's father is gonna come and kill you and your kids. You don't know each individual story and it's unfortunate you follow the patent Conk response and blanket them to damnation.

It's also unfortunate you're willing to give them a pass for those same bad decisions. That's enabling and not helpful. I've met similar folks through my VOLUNTEER work and life does get in the way. The difference is, while I volunteer and want to help the less fortunate in my area in my own way, I'm not advocating the mandated care of those same folks through universal taxation. Remind me again how many of these families you and D have housed in your own dwellings with your personal funds over the years?

grizfnz wrote:Since you're making $9 an hour, did the game designers factor in the food assistance money, low income medical coupons, gas vouchers, etc. that come with poverty level jobs?

Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt

I did apply for food stamps but they won't kick in for another month, so no, it's not factored in...

Appaholic wrote:

Cap'n Cat wrote:Through D1B, I've met some of these "scum", Appy, and they about making bad decisions. Life gets in the way and the most vulnerable pay. Hard to go to school or train for a job when you're worried your crackhead baby's father is gonna come and kill you and your kids. You don't know each individual story and it's unfortunate you follow the patent Conk response and blanket them to damnation.

It's also unfortunate you're willing to give them a pass for those same bad decisions. That's enabling and not helpful. I've met similar folks through my VOLUNTEER work and life does get in the way. The difference is, while I volunteer and want to help the less fortunate in my area in my own way, I'm not advocating the mandated care of those same folks through universal taxation. Remind me again how many of these families you and D have housed in your own dwellings with your personal funds over the years?

Cop out, Appy, and yes, I am advocating mandated care for those folks. Again, you're assuming thay ALL made some glorious "mistake" and now. are surrendering themselves to be wards of your state. Preposterous.

Cap'n Cat wrote:

Appaholic wrote:
According to the game, I paid my bills...$225.00. So, again, we are back to the old adage, "It's not what you make, but what you do with what you make...."

Food? You pay the car insurance? Kids need anything for school? What if your tranny fell out? Entertainment? Can the kids go to the amusement park or are they stuck in the squalid living room watching SpongeBob all day? Ain't a lot of money, man, and no chance to save.

Food? Yes. Car Insurance? Yes. School supplies? Yes. When presented with those options, I made the responsible decisions. I allowed my child to go to museum, join the gifted classes in school and play extra curricular sports. I opted to use the free internet at the library. You're right, it's not a lot of money and no chance to save.....but that's why I personally did not choose to go this route in my real life. Life is as tough as you make it sometimes....

Appaholic wrote:

grizfnz wrote:Since you're making $9 an hour, did the game designers factor in the food assistance money, low income medical coupons, gas vouchers, etc. that come with poverty level jobs?

Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt

I did apply for food stamps but they won't kick in for another month, so no, it's not factored in...

So, whattaya gonna do for that month, panhandle?

Kid gets the flu and you miss three work days - now what? Maybe your boss fires you?

I ended up with $490. Shot the sick dog, but helped Mom and gave back the dropped $10 bill!

FWIW the wife and I plan to live on $9/hr (each) in a few years, although that's with a modest amount of retirement money in the bank - we'll sell the DC area house, use the equity to pay cash for a condo in Florida, and work at Disney as a husband/wife tram operator team to pay for the groceries...

Ivytalk wrote:I ended up with $490. Shot the sick dog, but helped Mom and gave back the dropped $10 bill!

What a DICK!!!!




I ended up with $365 and KNOW that ain't gonna do it for many of the reasons stated above and the fact that every month presents different (and difficult) challenges. I can't save, Christmas is coming up.....

Cap'n Cat wrote:

Appaholic wrote:
It's also unfortunate you're willing to give them a pass for those same bad decisions. That's enabling and not helpful. I've met similar folks through my VOLUNTEER work and life does get in the way. The difference is, while I volunteer and want to help the less fortunate in my area in my own way, I'm not advocating the mandated care of those same folks through universal taxation. Remind me again how many of these families you and D have housed in your own dwellings with your personal funds over the years?

Cop out, Appy, and yes, I am advocating mandated care for those folks. Again, you're assuming thay ALL made some glorious "mistake" and now. are surrendering themselves to be wards of your state. Preposterous.

Why is it a cop out? Because it requires you accepting a burden for one of your pet causes? I think all animals should be given homes to live, there should be mandated neutering and spaying of animals and no kill shelters. However, I don't expect others to have a mandated amount taken from their paycheck so animals could live a certain way I deem appropriate. You're mandated care makes them wards of the state. And I don't think they've all made some glorious mistake, I just happen to be fine with the idea that not all people live at the same levels as mandated by the state.

Cap'n Cat wrote:

Appaholic wrote:
I did apply for food stamps but they won't kick in for another month, so no, it's not factored in...

So, whattaya gonna do for that month, panhandle?

Kid gets the flu and you miss three work days - now what? Maybe your boss fires you?

Or maybe I bust my ass at work, get hired full time and get a raise.....Life's what you make it....I guess I'll eat Ramen noodles until then...choices & priorities...

Cap'n Cat wrote:Through D1B, I've met some of these "scum", Appy, and they about making bad decisions. Life gets in the way and the most vulnerable pay. Hard to go to school or train for a job when you're worried your crackhead baby's father is gonna come and kill you and your kids. You don't know each individual story and it's unfortunate you follow the patent Conk response and blanket them to damnation.

True, but if your baby's daddy is a crack addict, you reap what you sow. If you're worried that aguy you fucked is crazy enough to kill you, then was the 3 minute of sex worth thel ifetime of fear? ( i know, it's never thought of like that, but they made thier decision. I'll help you out, but you have to help yourself first)

Appaholic wrote:

Cap'n Cat wrote:

So, whattaya gonna do for that month, panhandle?

Kid gets the flu and you miss three work days - now what? Maybe your boss fires you?

Or maybe I bust my ass at work, get hired full time and get a raise.....Life's what you make it....I guess I'll eat Ramen noodles until then...choices & priorities...

And, let your kid die from influenza...............


J/K, Appy. You make good points.

Ibanez wrote:

Cap'n Cat wrote:Through D1B, I've met some of these "scum", Appy, and they about making bad decisions. Life gets in the way and the most vulnerable pay. Hard to go to school or train for a job when you're worried your crackhead baby's father is gonna come and kill you and your kids. You don't know each individual story and it's unfortunate you follow the patent Conk response and blanket them to damnation.

True, but if your baby's daddy is a crack addict, you reap what you sow. If you're worried that aguy you fucked is crazy enough to kill you, then was the 3 minute of sex worth thel ifetime of fear? ( i know, it's never thought of like that, but they made thier decision. I'll help you out, but you have to help yourself first)

The guy was a high school valedictorian who got hooked on meth after you got married. You worked you hiney off to get him help, but he turned into a psycopath?

Yeah, I'm taking some liberties, but, guys, every story is different and some of you are affixing blame based on gross generalities.

Cap'n Cat wrote:

Appaholic wrote:
It's also unfortunate you're willing to give them a pass for those same bad decisions. That's enabling and not helpful. I've met similar folks through my VOLUNTEER work and life does get in the way. The difference is, while I volunteer and want to help the less fortunate in my area in my own way, I'm not advocating the mandated care of those same folks through universal taxation. Remind me again how many of these families you and D have housed in your own dwellings with your personal funds over the years?

Cop out, Appy, and yes, I am advocating mandated care for those folks. Again, you're assuming thay ALL made some glorious "mistake" and now. are surrendering themselves to be wards of your state. Preposterous.

Been doing it since Obama took office.

Man, God help everyone when the BIG Conk wave hits this thread...............

native, tman, Z, HI5, Hoagie, Hen, Alfie, SuperFvck. Holy Jesus.............


"What fvck problem, Cat? Kill own food, eat bug, dig up root, eat young, make it on 9 an hour."