Page 21 - AdventGuide2019

MAKING CHOICES
How will you invest your resources?
CATEGORY
1 CANDY
2 CANDIES
3 CANDIES
4 CANDIES
5 CANDIES
HOUSING
HEALTHCARE
FOOD (PER PERSON)
TRANSPORTATION
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
SHOPPING
SPENDING MONEY
Homeless; living at a homeless shelter or out of car.
No health insurance, you pay for all health related costs
1 meal a day
Walk or bike everywhere, no public transit available
No computer, no cell phone, black & white TV, no cable
Laundromat
One grocery store within walking distance, no mall within 20 miles
After the bills/food are paid no extra money left
Living with relatives/friends and sharing expenses.
Health ins for you through your employer but no health ins for your family.
2 meals a day
Walk, bike or take public transit
No computer, have cell phone & TV, no cable
Shared laundry room in apartment complex
Grocery store across the street from home and a mini-mall within a mile
$20 left over each week after all bills are paid
Efficiency apartment; street parking, unfurnished, no amenities.
Health ins for you & your family through your employer.
3 meals a day + snacks
Own your own car
Home computer, cell phone & TV with cable
Own washer/ dryer, in your home
Two grocery stores nearby and a large mall within walking distance
$50 left over each week after all bills are paid
3 bdrm, 1 bath apt; unfurnished, patio, parking, stove & refrigerator.
2 bdrm, 1 1/2 bath house: unfurn., sm fncd yrd, stove, ref. & w/d.
As you and your family
prepare for Christmas this Advent Season, use this activity to reflect on the difficult choices our neighbors and families are forced to make this season and often every day.
If you had a “15-candy budget” to spend every month, how would you spend It? What would your priorities be? To play, place the required number of candies to indicate your spending choices. You have to make a choice for each category. You cannot skip any categories.
Pretend you are married. You both work and have a 14-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.
Once you finish the game
try these questions and talk about them as a family.
• Some unexpected expenses occur: one of your children has strep throat and had to see the doctor. Remove 2 candies from your board
• Mom was just laid off from her job. Remove 4 candies from your board.
For discussion: Did you find it
hard to decide what you might go without? Today, many of our family, friends and neighbors are forced to make these tough decisions every day.
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