The Spending Game
Here is a list of various expenses you could have on a monthly basis. You also have 20 beans that represent your income for one month. Each spending category has several options for you to choose from. Each option will cost you a different number of beans, and every circle will cost you one bean. Spend all your beans by dragging them over to the categories you want. After you are done, I’ll ask you some questions.
20
reset
Utilities
Heat And Lights
- a. Included in rent
- b. Cost split among roomates
- c. You pay the bills
Phone
- a. No Phone
- b. Phone: phone cards for
long-distance calls
- c. Phone: lots of long-distance calls
- d. Cell Phone
Personal Grooming
- a. Generic Brands
- b. basic haircut; discount specials
- c. hair styling and perm by professional,
name-brand products
Recreation
- a. walking, reading, playing with kids
- b. cable TV, occasional movies
- c. concerts, health club memberships,
vacations
Gifts
- a. Make your own
- b. Cards and small gifts on special
occasions
- c. frequent gifts for everybody
Child Care
- a. Provided by family
- b. Hire sitter part-time
- c. Full-time at day care center
Odds N Ends
- a. CD, video, DVD rentals
- b. $10,000 life insurance policy
- c. Weekly giving to charity or religious group
- d. Newspapers and magazines
- e. Internet service
- f. Favorite hobby/recreation
- g. TV, VCR, DVD, or CD player
- h. Expensive dates
- i. Personal computer
- j. cigarettes, alcohol
- k. Lottery tickets
Transportation
- a. Walk or bike
- b. Take the bus
- c. Buy fuel for friend's car
- d. Buy used car; pay for maintenance
- e. Buy new car
Savings
- a. No savings
- b. Change in piggy bank
- c. Some amount each week or month
Food
- a. Cook at home - never eat out
- b. Eat at home but buy pop and snacks from vending machine or convenience store
- c. Cook for family at home and buy yourself three lunches per week
- d. Frequent lunches out; family meal out once a week
Insurance
Heat And Lights
- a. No Coverage
- b. Basic health coverage
- c. Health, disability coverage
Auto
- a. Liability coverage only
- b. Complete coverage
- c. High-risk coverage
Renters/Homeowners
- a. No Coverage
- b. Property, liability coverage
Housing
- a. Live with family member
- b. Share apartment with friends
- c. Rent place of your own
- d. Buy home