Cycle of Poverty

Hey, I found this game about managing money when you are poor. Thought it would be enjoyed here. For all the people who think the poor just don't know how to handle their finances, time to put you money where your mouth is.

My results: I made it to day 28 with $323 bucks and then my car crapped out on me on day 29 for a $300 repair. Note that I only made it that far by skipping my best friend's wedding and my grandpa's funeral, as well as avoiding a root canal, among other things.

edited 28th Sep '11 11:52:12 AM by sketch162000

Oh, one of these games. Joy.

What are these games?

Please.

It's a game intentionally designed to play to your emotional centers. A sense of quiet desperation. I mean, I think that's probably the most reflective of poverty, but, it's like a political message framed as a game. It may be a political message I agree with but bleh.

I think we had this mentioned in IJAM or YF. The impact of playing it is lost after the first time. After that, it's just a mental challenge to optimize your end-of-month standing.

That said, it does get you to think.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Made it through with $65.

I think that the price for doing laundry is high in that scenario. If its including the price for detergent, then that's a bit better, but its still not nearly that expensive for clothes in my experience...

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

I made it through better than in real life.

Though this person has made some shitty life choices.

I mean kids? Really?

Please.

I'm assuming that they had kids before they became poor...

edited 28th Sep '11 12:16:14 PM by sketch162000

How many poor adult couples do you know WITHOUT kids, anyway? Sex is one of the few entertainments that's free.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.

So are condoms.

Condoms break, even the free ones.

Abortion is cheaper than birth.

edited 28th Sep '11 12:21:48 PM by TheDeadMansLife

Please.

I would assume that the morning after pill costs less than a child.

And where is the "get help from parents" button? Are you batman and your parents are DEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD? If your a single parent why aren't you getting child benefit? Or at the very least alimony payments from your other half?

Also, I am going to keep reloading to get that typing job if it kills me.

edited 28th Sep '11 12:26:51 PM by JosefBugman

I stopped when I didn't have the money to get my pet to the vet. Seriously, that is failure at life right there. You can't do that much, just give up.

I also find it frustrating that it doesn't let you take out brief loans from relatives.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.

Made it through with $449 with the restaurant job. However, they say my rent is due tomorrow ($800+ because I chose to live close to the job), so I'm fucked all the same.

edited 28th Sep '11 12:31:23 PM by kashchei

And better than thy stroke; why swellest thou then?

x3 I think at one point, I had to give my mother money for medication, so there's that.

LOL at the typing job.

edited 28th Sep '11 12:30:33 PM by sketch162000

Why can't I just leave my kid alone for a couple of hours?

Please.

This is BULLSHIT!

I just timed myself doing the typing and I was faster than 55 in one minute. With capitalisations. Fuck this game!

Most people have kids, it would be stupid to leave them out, and "poor people shouldn't breed" is just a whole other level of eyeroll (and completely unworkable in real life). I was wondering where my family pet came from! I just assumed it was a frog my kid caught and let it suffer. Sorry Mr. Hops.

It's a fun game, but I never make it with enough money for the next months rent.

I saw a better one once in a economics class. It was one where you had to decide the budget of the united states government and try to get it to balance. Our class failed miserably thanks to all the competing interests in the class who'd rather not cut a damned thing from any area except "government employee salaries"

The point that there are unforeseeable expenditures that set poor people back significantly seems to be lost on a lot of people. Arguing about the plausibility of your choices is moot; if it's not one thing, it's another.

And better than thy stroke; why swellest thou then?

@Dead Man: Probably because in most states, it's illegal to leave any child under the age of 12 unsupervised for any length of time.*

Technically, it's child neglect or endangerment, depending on how crappy your home is, and eventually you end up in jail with your children taken away from you as an unfit parent.

edited 28th Sep '11 12:38:53 PM by BlueNinja0

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw

Like your piece of shit car thats the best you can afford suddenly needing a 500 dollar part just as you thought you had your budget balanced!

That car bill is true to real life.

You can expect a matching bill next month as the shop finds another thing wrong with it that they 'missed' the first time around.

Furthermore, I think Guantanamo must be destroyed.

@Joseph A creepy stranger on the internet looks at you. He says ", Pssst! All you need to do is copy and paste this The mission of Urban Ministries of Durham is to provide food, clothing, shelter and supportive services to our neighbors in need. and you will get the job.

You can do it or not get the job.

Edit: Ah fuck this system.

edited 28th Sep '11 12:42:16 PM by TheDeadMansLife

Please.