Could you survive in poverty with only $1000? Spent simulates just that.

[Saucycarpdog]

http://playspent.org/

The game Spent is an educational game where you learn about the harsh environment of poverty. In the game, you've lost your job, your house, and your savings. Now, can you survive a month on only $1000?

I played through it a bit myself. I gotta say, this game is very hard. And it saddens me to think that this is what some people have to go through.

I suggest some of you try it. But like I said, it's not easy.

 

[Jazoni89]

I survive on roughly that same amount in benefits a month, and im okay.

But then again i don't pay tax or rent.

 

[Pielikey]

I made it with $226 as a table waiter, first try.

I am now going to see how quickly I can fail.

EDIT: this introduction is REALLY annoying, I mean they're trying to get a message by but when you're playing in rapid succession

I don't think it's possible to lose in the first 11 days

EDIT2:Nope, it's possible, Managed to lose on day 5

 

[Mimssy]

With rent, I spend less than that. It's hard to make due on $20 a week but it can be done.

 

[Julianking93]

I won... with 13 dollars left over.
Yay for me.

That game is depressing. What the hell do they mean I can't live off apples and ramen noodles!!??

 

[theriddlen]

1000$? Most people in my country would be really happy if their wages were this high, my parents including (and yet i have a good pc, i'm writing this from a MBP, and i've got an iPhone).

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I survive on less than £1000 a month... In dollars it'd be even easier.

 

[Exocet]

I survive on 800 euros a month,with 350 euros going to rent.Honestly,if you don't spend impulsively,it's entirely do-able and you don't feel like you live under the poverty line at all.
If you're curious,I've been living on that budget for 3 and a half years.Now,living with less than 600 euros for everything,now that's a real challenge.I may have pulled it off once,but I only ate about 25 euros worth of food during 2 weeks.Now that's no way to live,and I feel sorry for those who have to make due with that.

 

[Who Dares Wins]

Hah, some country averages are 500$ (like mine) a month and everyone lives.

OT: Couldn't type without failing, my keyboard skips...

 

[Kpt._Rob]

$1000 a month covers my rent, utilities, food, high speed internet, gas, and money left over for books, games, music, movies, etc... The only things I don't pay are my health insurance and my car insurance. But lots of people live without health insurance, and if I couldn't afford car insurance I could just get a bike, and then not have to spend money on gas either.

 

[hakojo]

Made it through my first play with over $400 left over.

Right now I'm making just under $300/month (hours got cut at work, although they're supposed to go back up soon, thank God), and pretty much all of that goes to paying off my car + insurance/gas, with about $20-$30 left over for incidentals; I've also got a $1k emergency buffer in case anything awful happens to me. If I was able to work full time, I'd probably be able to live on my own; my parents are wonderful and are allowing me to stay with them while I'm in college.

 

[Bon_Clay]

The game is pretty damn rigged if you get unlucky. IRL if my car broke down this many damn times it would certainly break some lemon laws.

This guy is too god damn clumsy breaking everything too. Well I finished with $164.

Tried it again and ended with $463. Whats really dumb is they don't even give you the option to pay both the gas and electric bills. I had over $800 at that point, could have easily paid both. So that late fee was completely unreasonable and unrealistic.

 

[Harbinger_]

Don't need to play the game, I do this all the time. When I'm not spending on frivolities.

 

[templargunman]

I made it with $226 as a table waiter, first try.

I am now going to see how quickly I can fail.

EDIT: this introduction is REALLY annoying, I mean they're trying to get a message by but when you're playing in rapid succession

I don't think it's possible to lose in the first 11 days

Wow, you suck at sucking at being poor. I lost it in 5, I just opted in for everything and got my house right next door to my work.

Also, the point is that you made it a month, but now you don't have a house, because your rent is too high, so the only way to win is have enough money at the end that your saved money is greater than your rent.

 

[AlmostLikeLife]

I made it with $89 as a factory worker.

 

[flagship]

$685, left at the end. Pretty easy game.

 

[Lopsided Weener]

$485 left at the end of the month. It pisses me off that I MUST have a car, I moved the house pretty much next to the work, and I'm still forced to lose loads of money on the car. Let me sell the car and walk... and use that money on the kid and food. I guess it's the whole American thing where you can't possibly survive without a car... right? (Of course I know it's not always like this, but it's the impression I get of Americans, and I know it's just a game)

 

[irani_che]

dude,
If I had $1000 dollars a month I would feel so rich right about now.
In reality, I spend about 600 pounds in uni fees, 300 pounds in rent. and have perfected a way of living off about 30 pounds a week for food and travel.

 

[AvsJoe]

Hahaha, I played this a few days ago. It tries to be "gritty" and "real", but it comes off as comically over-the-top. I lived way below the poverty line for a couple of years and spent some time homeless and I didn't have to deal with a quarter of the shit you're put through in that game.

 

[Jadak]

I must have a car? Ever heard of taking the bus? Living close to work arbitrarily costs more? Housing is more expensive closer to a warehouse district? I have to pay at least one of my bills? If I can ditch my car insurance to only pay my phone bill, why can't I not pay either? Screw the car, forget the phone.

The game deals with people in a scenario where they've already backed themselves into a corner with their lives leading up to this point, and then limits your options more than what exists to serve it's point.

In reality, I already live off that much on average, and I still save enough to blow on new games here and there. So, no sympathy.

Edit: After playing again, more complaints: Why do I have a kid? And why have I not heard about him until Day 10, and where is the other parent? And why can I not by multiples of the same groceries, and why do I have to buy for the next "several weeks", all at once. I can go back.

Oh, and of course I have college loans to pay, despite not having the option to even make an effort to look for jobs I might have went to school for. Employers and Landlords seem to universally disregard the law in this thing as well, so.. BS.