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Could you live off of $438 a week?
What's it like to live in poverty? Unless you've been there, it's hard to know. But every day, millions of Americans have to make tough choices about how they will survive, what they will eat, and where they will live. When you have very little money, the financial decisions you are forced to make are not only difficult, but also life changing.
Marketplace Money -- in collaboration with the Wealth and Poverty Desk and KPBS in San Diego -- have focused on these important decisions in a special called "Tough Choices" airing this weekend on Public Radio stations and the Marketplace Money Podcast.
One story from the show explores how people who are not poor can experience what it's like to live in poverty. They take part in a nationwide Poverty Simulator, a real-life workshop that requires them to face the tough choices that people make when living at or below the poverty threshold.
The Poverty Simulator program is intensive, but we've condensed the experience into a simple interactive game above. Try it out above to see if you can get by supporting a family of four on just $22,811 in a year.
SPECIAL REPORT: Listen and read more stories and interviews from the Marketplace Money special report, "Tough Choices." Read more.
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Well, I have recently "fallen into poverty" due to a divorce from an alcoholic, so I can speak on this topic. I spent many hours when I got divorced thinking about how we were going to live a nice life, I didn't want my kids to end up feeling depressed and deprived. I moved my two kids from our old area to a smaller town where cost of living is low and relatives watch them for free (I will admit, the only thing making this poverty living possible). We pay a mortgage of $500 a month on a nice three bedroom home, fortunately I have good credit which is another obstacle for most people in poverty.
My kids will wear any hand me downs people want to give us, we eat cheaper meals, I work five minutes from the house at a low wage job. I don't smoke or drink or generally buy any junk. My kids take advantage of a lot of fun, free library programs and just play in the neighborhood with their friends. I calculated I would have to make over twice as much to work in the city and I'd lose 2+ hours with my young kids a day. I don't get food stamps yet, although we definitely qualify income wise and I may someday. We do however, get free lunch for my child in school as well as Comcasts $9.99 internet for "the poor folks" and a heating subsidy. They also qualify for Medicaid which they haven't had to use for more than basic needs, but it is wonderful program for kids. I am not bragging about these things at all, I wish my ex gave me child support and I didn't have to rely on them, but I am just saying that with careful planning, good luck, and taking advantage of programs offered, the poor don't have to live a horrible life. It's not terribly fun to not be able to spend like crazy, but totally doable. We are happy.
Great story!
I am unemployed, and that is about what I get from unemployment :) I thank God every day that my government is there to help me out with what little amount that is; even though it's not enough to make ends meet, it's better than nothing! It's about to run out, so I'm putting everything in storage and living out of my car (again) since I haven't yet landed a job. I can't afford rent plus a car payment, so since my car is the only asset I have (no 401k, no savings, no health ins.), I will do everything I can to make sure I make my monthly payment and honor the loan I took out. My signature, my word, is the only thing I have. I have a Bachelor's degree in Business and I am still paying my student loans as well. The irony should be obvious.
I apologize to any cold-hearted souls for having to take our government's money while I have been down and out on hard times. I did not apply for food stamps, even though I've often gone days with little or no food. However, I can't stomach the thought of a child going hungry so I prefer not to take money from a program when it could go to help children.
I don't want any sympathy, or our government's money, nor anyone's scorn for having to ask for help from my country when I was in a time of need. I will survive. I am an American.
Do you really need to do a simulation to know that a family can't survive on $1700/month? However, if doing this simulation makes someone more empathetic, then that's good. The Southern Arizona Community Food Bank issued a challenge, so to speak, that people try to eat on $4.00/day (the average amount for a food stamp recipient in Arizona) from September 24-28 (not a simulation). $4.00 per day! I hear people railing against food stamps (and many of these same people are against raising the minimum wage). They have never been poor. They better hope they don't get hit with M.S., fibromyalgia, Parkinsons or some other debilitating condition which makes it so they can't work and they become destitute. Or, in this economy, there are many who have been laid off, have spent their savings, and still cannot find work.
imo there is something fundamentally wrong if we think it is hard to live with $438/week, and I say this because I myself used to live under $550/month. About 8 years back I came to this country on student visa. I had nothing but just the tuition fee and few hundred dollars for living. Because of my hard work, I was able to find a (legal) job in the University that paid me ~550/month. Believe me or not, the first month I got that money I felt like a King. I lived within my means. With that money I had enough to pay for my monthly living expenses, and over the 6 months I had enough saved to pay for next semester tuition. I didn't need new car or fancy apartment. I didn't need to buy new fancy cell phone or eat out daily at restaurants. We shared rooms with friends, cooked food at home. With the right focus and hard work I completed my Engineering and came to Silicon Valley with a great job. Looking back at my life, I don't feel I missed anything. I hung out with friends, had dencent amount of booze, went on road-trip to all over the places in US and still made it. And just for a note, I've not taken a single penny from government throughout my stay here in USA. This is a great country. Anyone who works hard will get rewarded. People who say they can't live under 438/week are just complaining and no-one will be able to help them. My 0.02
I think even you will concede that hard luck can befall anyone and that 438 a week might not fully fulfill the needs of a family as oppose to an individual. I too, as a younger person, live on far less than most people but I am also aware enough to realize that living hand to mouth as a single young person is far easier than a family with health problems or other such unexpected problems especially if luck and youth is with you.
Thank you for highlighting both the issue and the opportunity to participate a poverty simulation. In my role as a university extension educator, I have presented poverty simulations in my community - both the large interactive event and some smaller-scale events for groups.
Thank you for condensing the experience electronically for those who don't have the chance to try out the real life scenario (nothing beats real life, and not even a couple hours spent walking through it can come close to the true experience).
I would recommend www.playspent.org for another online simulation experience that provides much more nuance to the situation.
For those still interested in trying the Poverty Simulation, contact your county extension office in your state and see if they still have the program.
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