001 - INTERACTIVE: Living Paycheck to Paycheck


Part 1: Set the Stage


Living paycheck to paycheck means that you need every bit of your paycheck to meet your expenses which drains your


balance back down to near $0 before your next paycheck arrives. And then you start the cycle again. As a result, you


don't have savings to fall back on, every dollar counts, and you're faced with tough decisions on a daily basis. In this


activity, you'll experience what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck by playing the game Spent. At the start of the game,


you are faced with the following scenario:


Over 14 million Americans are unemployed. Now imagine you're one of them. Your


savings are gone. You've lost your house. And you're down to your last $1,000. Can


you make it through the month?


How do you feel about your situation? Do you think you can live 30 days with $1,000? Explain.