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. 66% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. 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: 

Millions of 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?

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​Scenario

Part II: Play the Game

• On the next slide, play Spent or Go to playspent.org to play. Click on Continue to Spent on the right side of the screen to start the game and play it all the way through. 

• Make sure to reflect on your choices and feelings during the game.

• PRO TIP: Keep an eye on the left-hand bar which keeps track of your progress and includes 3 options to get more money during the month. 

• Take screenshot of your final results.

Take a Screenshot!

​Use your snipping tool.

Take a screenshot of your Score results and submit it to this assignment on Google classroom.

How do you feel?

Think about your emotional state as you played the game and select the top 5 adjectives below that best describe what you felt. 

​Write down your adjectives for the next question.

Congratulations

​Don't forget to take your screenshot.

You have completed the Paycheck to Paycheck lesson. Remember, over 66% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. The values, habits, and decisions you make now can ensure that you are not in the situation of living to paycheck to paycheck when you are an adult. Take a screenshot of your Quizizz results and post to Schoology.