Question: $PENT is an online game about surviving poverty and homelessness. Players must make the difficult decisions necessary to live for one month on $1,000, often having to choose between equally disagreeable options. The dilemmas they face represent those that bring people to places Ministry with Community in Kalamazoo. Do you make a healthy meal or keep the lights on? Cover the minimum on your credit cards or pay the rent? Hope your sick daughter gets better on her own or risk your job by leaving early to take her to the doctor? Let your son play in the after-school sports league or save the money needed for his uniform? The game ends when players either run out of money before the end of the month or make it through with money left over. Since its launch in February 2011, the interactive game SPENT has been played more than 4 million times in over 218 countries. Play the game at playspent.

After you've played the game, answer the following questions:

1. What job did you select? What's your reasoning?

2. Home; the farther away the more gas you spend and the more wear and tear on your car. Where did you end up?

3. What's your ending balance? Did you make it through the month?

4. What did you choose to go without? How did you feel about that?

5. Did you make choices that were illegal or not honest? If so, why?

6. How did this game affect your view on poverty?