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 ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) 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 left in 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.
ContinueIt’s time to renew your annual bus pass. The cost for seniors is $200.
Subtract $200 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 your first appointment, but cancels for the second one. You must pay for round trip taxi to make your 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 your first appointment, but cancels for the second one. 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 211, Heart of Florida 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 your dosage does nothing and you have to visit your doctor again, who convinces you to purchase the full dosage.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
Taking half your dosage worsens your condition, rather than helps, and you have to spend the night in the hospital.
Subtract $500 for your hospital stay.
Taking half your dosage worsens your condition, rather than helps, and you have to spend the night in the hospital.
Subtract $500 for your hospital stay.
Taking half your dosage does nothing and you have to visit your doctor again, who convinces you to purchase the full dosage.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
Taking half the dosage manages your condition. Your budget stays the same.
Taking half the dosage manages your condition. Your budget stays the same.
Unusually cold temperatures in February mean your utility bill is much higher than expected.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
ContinueCould you imagine living on the edge of a financial cliff each month as James is doing? Thousands of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living rises and wages remain the same. You can help keep them healthy, housed and fed with your generous donation.
FinishYou are 28 years old. You and your son recently escaped a long-term abusive relationship. Without a family support system, your six-year-old is 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 hours daily 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 decide to apply to a culinary program to earn a certification to improve your earning potential.
Subtract $25 from your budget.
ContinueYou are eligible for health benefits as a full-time employee, but you have to pay part of the insurance premium.
You can:
You 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.
Unusually cold temperatures in February mean your utility bill is much higher than expected.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
ContinueCould you imagine living on the edge of a financial cliff each month as Amanda is doing? Thousands of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living rises and wages remain the same. You can help keep them healthy, housed and fed with your generous donation.
FinishYou are 42 years old. When a disability forced you into early retirement, your wife picked 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 unpaid time off of work and her pay is reduced by $300 per month.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
ContinueIn-home therapy sessions cost an extra $400 per month.
Subtract $400 from your budget.
ContinueYou call 211 Information & Referral Crisis Line and learn that you can save on your monthly grocery bill by going to a local food pantry.
Add $50 to your budget.
ContinueJake’s condition worsens and you are compelled to take him to the vet anyway. The delay in taking Jake to the vet allowed the growth to develop into a more expensive problem.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
Jake’s condition worsens and you are compelled to take him to the vet anyway. At the vet Jake receives treatment for $200.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
While waiting for your tax refund to afford taking Jake to the vet, the mysterious growth disappears. You no longer need to take him to the vet.
Your budget stays the same.
While waiting for your tax refund to afford taking Jake to the vet, the mysterious growth disappears. You no longer need to take him to the vet.
Your budget stays the same.
Jake’s condition worsens and you are compelled to take him to the vet anyway. The delay in taking Jake to the vet allowed the growth to develop into a more expensive problem.
Subtract $300 from your budget.
Jake’s condition worsens and you are compelled to take him to the vet anyway. At the vet Jake receives treatment for $200.
Subtract $200 from your budget.
Your middle child breaks their ankle during a school basketball game.
Subtract $400 from your budget.
ContinuePipes to your water heater are leaking and it costs you $400 to have them fixed.
Subtract $400 from your budget.
Your water heater is fine.
Your budget stays the same.
Pipes to your water heater are leaking and it costs you $400 to have them fixed.
Subtract $400 from your budget.
Your water heater is broken and costs $700 to replace.
Subtract $700 from your budget.
Your water heater is broken and costs $700 to replace.
Subtract $700 from your budget.
Your water heater is fine.
Your budget stays the same.
Your family car breaks down and has to have a repair.
Subtract $450 from your budget.
ContinueCould you imagine living on the edge of a financial cliff each month as Dave is doing? Thousands of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living rises. You can help keep them healthy, housed and fed with your generous donation.
Finish
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Dave
