walk in my shoes
walk in my shoes
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Take a Walk In My Shoes to experience real life examples of the difficult budget decisions some of us have to make each month. Even when you are working hard, the world can throw you some curveballs that can change your life in an instant.
continueYou will select one of three people, each facing a different set of challenges, and follow their path. You will be asked to make tough choices or take a risk because just as in real life, random events happen.
continueYou are 75 years old. As a retired widower without any family Florida, your support system is meager at best. Living on a fixed income in an apartment forces you to rely on public transportation.
Monthly Income: $1,800
StartIt’s the first of the month and your fixed expenses are due: rent and phone.
Subtract $1100 from your budget.
The health aide costs $300 per month.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
ContinueThe new apartment costs $150 more than your previous apartment.
Subtract $150 from your budget.
ContinueTime to get your monthly bus pass. The cost for seniors is $35.
Subtract $35 from your budget.
ContinueSubtract $150 from your budget.
ContinueYour friend reliably drives you to your doctor appointments. Your budget stays the same.
Your friend fails to drive you to the doctor, so you spend $50 for a taxi ride. You then decide to try a new doctor who is on the bus route, but charges $150 more than Medicaid will cover. Subtract $200 from your budget.
Your friend drives you to one appointment, but cancels for the second. You must pay for round trip taxi to make that appointment. Subtract $50 from your budget.
Your friend fails to drive you to the doctor, so you spend $50 for a taxi ride.
You then decide to try a new doctor who is on the bus route, but charges $150 more than Medicaid will cover. Subtract $200 from your budget.
Your friend drives you to one appointment, but cancels for the second. You must pay for round trip taxi to make that appointment. Subtract $50 from your budget.
Your friend reliably drives you to your doctor appointments. Your budget stays the same.
You call 2-1-1, United Way’s free information and referral service, and find out you qualify for a senior benefit program.
Add $100 to your budget.
ContinueTaking half of your dosage worsens, rather than helps, your condition and you have to spend the night in the hospital. Without a Medicare Supplement Plan, you have to pay 20% of the cost.
Subtract $500 for your hospital stay.
You didn’t realize your toilet was leaking water. Your water bill is 200% higher than usual.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
ContinueCould you imagine living on the edge of a financial cliff each month as Dave is doing? You can help them become more financially secure through job training, financial coaching, and free tax preparation – and provide educational support for their family though your generous donation.
FinishYou are 23 years old. Without family support, dropping out of high school was your only option when you became pregnant with your son. He is now six and your sole responsibility, leaving limited options to schedule shifts and child care with your part-time waitressing job.
Monthly income: $2,000
StartIt’s the first of the month and your fixed expenses are due: rent, phone and car payment.
Subtract $1500 from your budget.
ContinueYou work the Lunch shift. You will earn less in tips, but your son will be in school during most of your work hours. You make an extra $1000, but now you need 2 daily hours of childcare for your son, costing $200 per month.
Add $800 to your budget.
ContinueYou work the dinner shift. You will earn more in tips, but will have to pay for evening childcare.
You make an extra $1500, but now you need 8 daily hours of childcare for your son, costing $800 per month.
Add $700 to your budget.
ContinueYour housing voucher to help pay rent is based on income. With the extra income from working full time, your rent increases by $200.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
ContinueYour car makes it through the month without breaking down.
Your budget stays the same.
You find a friend who will fix your car for the cost of parts.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
Your car makes it through the month without breaking down.
Your budget stays the same.
Your car breaks down on the road. You have to pay to have it fixed plus the extra for the tow.
Subtract $600 from your budget.
You find a friend who will fix your car for the cost of parts.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
Your car breaks down on the road. You have to pay to have it fixed plus the extra for the tow.
Subtract $600 from your budget.
You are eligible for health benefits as a full-time employee, but you have to pay part of the insurance premium.
You can:
Your budget stays the same, however, with the two buses it takes to get to work, your ten minute commute turned into an hour each way.
ContinueYou get strep throat and have to miss work to go to the doctor for medicine.
Subtract $250 from your budget.
You crack a tooth this month.
Subtract $450 from your budget.
You stay healthy this month.
Your budget stays the same.
You crack a tooth this month.
Subtract $450 from your budget.
You get strep throat and have to miss work to go to the doctor for medicine.
Subtract $250 from your budget.
You stay healthy this month.
Your budget stays the same.
You didn’t realize your toilet was leaking water. Your water bill is 200% higher than usual.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
ContinueCould you imagine living on the edge of a financial cliff each month as Amanda is doing? You can help them become more financially secure through job training, financial coaching, and free tax preparation – and provide educational support for their family though your generous donation.
FinishWhen an accident at work forces you into short-term disability at 60% of your income, your wife takes a break from her education to pick up a part-time job. Still, your mortgage, medical bills and the needs of your three kids make it difficult to make ends meet.
Monthly income: $3,000
StartIt’s the first of the month and your fixed expenses are due: mortgage, phone and car payment.
Subtract $2,000 from your budget.
ContinueYou ask your wife to watch the kids while you’re at physical therapy. Your wife takes the day off, losing the $100 for the day and giving her a demerit at work for unscheduled time off. After three demerits, she loses her job.
Subtract $100 from your budget.
ContinueYour workman’s compensation doesn’t cover the penalty fee your therapist charges for last-minute cancellations. By missing the session, you also jeopardize your recovery and return to work before benefits expire.
Deduct $120 from your budget
ContinueLast year, you paid $400 to ACME Tax Preparation. This year, your friend tells you about United Way’s Free Tax Prep (VITA) program.
Add $400 to your budget.
ContinueYou qualify for an Earned Income Tax Credit and will get a tax refund, so you debate delaying vet-ordered diagnostic tests for your beloved dog, Jake, who has been lethargic and has stopped eating.
You can:
Take Jake to get the diagnostic tests. The tests reveal an illness that is affordably treatable when caught early.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
ContinueJake’s condition worsens and you are compelled to take him for the diagnostic tests anyways. The tests reveal that the delay allowed the infection to worsen, increasing the treatment cost.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
Your middle child breaks their ankle during a school basketball game. You have a high-deductible health plan, and have not reached the deductible. You pay the entire cost for the visit.
Subtract $400 from your budget.
ContinueGood news. It just needed a cleaning and tune up.
Deduct $200 from your budget.
ContinueYour water heater doesn’t get any worse (for now).
Your budget stays the same.
A highly active hurricane season last year caused homeowner’s insurance rates to spike in your area. You quarterly payment increased 20%.
Deduct $450 from your budget.
ContinueCould you imagine living on the edge of a financial cliff each month as Dave/James is doing? You can help them become more financially secure through job training, financial coaching, and free tax preparation – and provide educational support for their family though your generous donation.
Finish
James
Amanda
Dave
