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Spent

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description Spent Overview

Spent is a browser-based serious game developed for Urban Ministries of Durham (UMD) in 2011 to raise awareness about poverty and financial hardship. Players take the role of an individual living near the poverty line and must make budgeting and life choices to survive a month without running out of money. The game presents scenarios involving employment, housing, healthcare, and unexpected expenses, aiming to educate the public on challenges faced by low-income households.

help Spent FAQ

What is Spent, and who created it?

Spent is a browser-based serious game created in 2011 by McKinney for Urban Ministries of Durham. It was designed to help players understand poverty, unstable work, and the risk of homelessness.

What do you have to manage in Spent?

The central challenge is to make $1,000 last for one month while keeping a household functioning. Players must balance rent, utilities, food, healthcare, transportation, and unexpected costs.

What kinds of choices does Spent present?

The game forces trade-offs such as paying a medical bill instead of another household expense or handling a child's school activity with little money available. Many choices affect work, health, family life, and the chance of becoming homeless.

Does Spent use real financial information?

Its housing choices were based partly on real Durham fair-market rent data rather than completely invented prices. That local grounding is why the game was created for Urban Ministries of Durham in North Carolina.

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