boringgame.org

Survive on Minimum Wage

$1,256 a month. Federal minimum wage hasn't moved since 2009. See if you can make it through 30 days.

Rent

Required

A roof. Or not.

Pick one

Food

Required

Calories cost money.

Pick one

Commute

Required

Getting to the job that pays you $7.25.

Pick one

Tax

Required

FICA doesn't ask if you can afford it.

Pick one

Health Insurance

Skippable

$200 a month, or one ER visit from ruin.

Dentist

Skippable

A checkup, twice a year. In theory.

Prescription

Skippable

The pills that keep you upright.

Phone

Skippable

How employers reach you. How you call your mom.

Internet

Skippable

Job apps live online now.

Student Loan

Skippable

The minimum payment. Just the minimum.

Credit Card

Skippable

Minimum payment. Interest does the rest.

Savings

Investment

An emergency fund the size of one emergency.

Evening Course

Investment

Eighty bucks for a chance at fifty cents more an hour.

Gym

Investment

$30 to outrun the ramen.

Netflix

Quality of life

Fifteen dollars of escape.

Dinner with a Friend

Quality of life

One meal you didn't cook alone.

Kid's Birthday Gift

Quality of life

They're turning seven. They'll remember.

Send Money Home

Quality of life

Family expects $100. They've waited two months.

Pick one option from each required category

How to play

Goal

You earn $1,256 a month at the US federal minimum wage. Pay rent, eat, get to work, and try to end the month without falling apart.

  1. 1. Pick who you are

    Single, single parent, or retiree. Each persona has different required bills and slightly different math.

  2. 2. Spend the budget

    For every category, pick one option. Watch the Health, Mood, Future and Debt bars react to each choice.

  3. 3. End the month

    Once every required category is picked, end the month. Random events fire, then you see the damage.

Things to try

  • Skip health insurance and end the month — see what an ER visit does to a $1,256 budget.
  • Try the same persona twice with completely different choices. Compare which life is even possible.
  • Hit Share on the settlement screen. The card is worth a tweet.

Sources for every number live at /survive/sources.