How much does it
cost for a family
of four to survive
in our community?
What would I
do if I could not
meet my basic
needs?
What is United Way
doing to close the gap
between poverty and
meeting my basic
needs?
THE PRICE OF LIFE
United Way Engagement Game
Game Overview

Summary:


This game is a great option for engaging an audience on
the real needs of people in your community. It can easily be
adapted for small and large audiences alike. The following
tutorial provides directions for various audience sizes as well
as detailed instructions for the game facilitator.
Goal:

To demonstrate how families living in poverty are unable to
meet even their most basic needs.
This is why the programs funded by your local United Way
are so important!
Game Overview Continued

How long does it take to play the game?
 About
15 to 20 minutes depending on how long
you explain the connection to United Way after.

How many people can play the game?
3
or more players. It works best when you can
have 5 to 7 teams of 3 to 4 people.
3+
Materials
What you need:
A
blank copy of the “Monthly Expenses
Worksheet” per participant (optional)
 A writing utensil or dry erase marker per
team
 A notepad or dry erase board to
display answers per team
 Eraser or napkin for each team if using
dry erase boards
 1 Price of Life Game Board Display
Audience Size Game Options

Small Audience:
If your audience ranges from 3 to 7 people, have everyone
participate as an individual contestant.
Average Audience: (8 to 45 people) *preferred method to get everyone discussing
 Split the room into teams (doesn’t need to be perfect) and give
each notepad or small dry erase board large enough for
everyone to see it. Allow the group a minute to discuss amongst
themselves (this gets everyone involved!).
Large Audience: (46+ people)
 For larger audiences, you may need to pick a few contestants to
“come on down.”
 In this case, still pass out the monthly expenses worksheet so
people in the audience can play along.



Rules Summary






This game is played just like the opening of the TV game show The
Price is Right.
Contestants must guess the price of several items without going over
the actual costs (listed in Monthly Expenses Worksheet attached).
In this version, contestants will be asked to guess the average
monthly costs of certain basic needs.
The individual who guesses closest to the actual cost without
going over wins that round. Two points will be given for a
“perfect bid.”
The top two or three contestants/teams with the most points at
the end of 6 rounds move on to the SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN.
The contestant or team to guess the final question closest without
going over wins the game.
Mountain Climber Visual





This visual is very important in demonstrating to the
audience that when living in poverty (a family of four
living on $23,000 a year) it is impossible to meet
your most basic needs without using the resources
provided by United Way partner agencies.
The mountain represents the monthly income of $1,921
After you announce the actual cost of a category,
move the mountain climber up the mountain, indicating
how much of your monthly income you would have to
spend on that particular resource.
Before you can get through all of the categories, you
will run out of money for the month and the mountain
climber will have to fall off the mountain cliff—even
though you still have several needs you haven’t met!
Continue on through the remaining categories,
explaining after each how far in debt you would be if
you were in this situation.
Example Price of Life Game Board Display
Monthly Income
Mountain
Climber
Categories
Guessed Category Answers
Velcro, to stick answers
to board
Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 1: Break up the room into teams.
 The
number of teams will depend on the number of dry
erase boards you have. It is recommended to have 5 to
7 teams of 3 to 4 people.
 There is no need to be perfect, so don’t take up a lot of
your time trying to evenly divide the room, just group
people together that are sitting near each other.
Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 2: Explain the rules of the game.
Example Explanation:
 You
can start out by saying something like, “Raise your
hand if you’ve ever watched the show The Price is Right?
Great! Everyone has! You all are going to be experts
at this.”
 Example: “Well, today we will be playing The Price of
Life, so instead of bidding on specific prices of items
you would find at the store, you will be guessing the
costs of basic needs.”
Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 2 continued:
Example continued:
“The government defines poverty as a family of 4 living on
$23,000 a year or less. Think about that for a minute. That’s
not a lot of money, and we are going to see today just how
far that income will take us.”
 “When you break down that $23,000 per month, you have
$1,921. So that’s what you have to spend each month. (You
can explain the mountain visual here; I usually don’t really
explain it. I just move the mountain man up each time they
spend money and I figure people understand what’s going
on.)

Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 3:Explain the first category. Ask for guesses
from each team as to what they think the answer
is. When every team has made a guess and
revealed their answers, announce the actual cost.
Stick the actual cost to the board.



Ask them to guess as close as possible without
going over the actual cost.
Make sure you explain exactly what the category
includes, because the contestants will probably
have a lot of questions if you don’t explain it at
the beginning.
It is recommended to have everyone turn their
boards over at the same time. Don’t give teams
very long to come up with an answer, although it is
good to see teams discussing their thoughts. The
game should move pretty quickly.
Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 4:Move the mountain climber
after the first category actual cost is
revealed.
You can let them know how much is left
after each question, but I usually don’t
say anything until he’s about to fall off
the mountain after you buy food.
 Example: “Ok, so after paying for food
you only have $71 left in your budget,
and you still have other needs that you
haven’t paid for yet.”

Detailed Facilitation Instructions:


Step 5:
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the
first six categories.
For the mountain climber:
 Continue
on through each
category and when you run
out of money make sure that
you make the mountain climber
fall off the cliff.
Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 6: Showcase Showdown



For the final question or the
“showcase showdown” bring up the
top two or three teams.
If there is a clear winner before the
showcase, just bring up whoever has
points. The showcase functions as a
winner-takes-all finale.
Bring one representative from each
of the top teams to answer the final
question without any help from the
audience.

Whoever guesses closest to the final
cost without going over is the winner.
(Be sure to take a moment to
celebrate their victory!)
Detailed Facilitation Instructions:

Step 6: Connect the game to United Way
Example Discussion Points:




Share about how United Way’s programs close the gap between that $23,000
(government defined poverty level) and the Living Income Standard for your community
(what it actually costs to live!).
Poverty is not just the lack of money, but it is the lack of resources. United Way funds the
programs that make up the difference for families in need.
Try to share some specific examples of how your partner agencies could be used to lessen
the burden/cost of those particular needs on the board.
Agency examples:


The Boys and Girls Club provides child care (and a lot more!!) for only $7.50 a YEAR.
That’s a lot different from the $221 a family could spend per month on childcare even
with a subsidy.
Or think about how many food pantries provide food, other programs provide much
needed counseling services, Urban Ministries of Wake has an open door clinic for people
living in poverty which is especially helpful for people with chronic illnesses such as
diabetes.
Our Research


The numbers used for the Monthly Expenses Worksheet
for United Way of the Greater Triangle were
resourced from:
Making Ends Meet After the Great Recession: The 2010
Living Income Standard for North Carolina
by Alexandra Forter Sirota with Edwin McLenaghan from NC BUDGET & TAX
CENTER, a project of the NORTH CAROLINA JUSTICE CENTER

Link:
http://www.ncjustice.org/sites/default/files/LIVING%2
0INCOME%20Standard%20-%202011-REVISED_0.pdf
Sample Materials


The following pages have sample materials for The
Price of Life game.
Keep in mind that the numbers for this game are
community specific. You can use these samples to
get you started and fill in your community specific
information.
Monthly Expenses Worksheet
ANSWERS
Monthly income of $1,921
(The monthly income of a family of four living in poverty)
Rent for a two-bedroom apartment
Balance _____$1212____________ Spent= $709
______$709____________
Average utility costs
Balance _____$962_____________ Spent= $959
______$250____________
Transportation costs
Balance _____$619_____________ Spent= $1302
______$343____________
Food costs
Balance _____$71______________ Spent=$1850
______$548____________
Child care costs (with subsidy)
Balance _____-$139_____________ Spent=$2060
______$210____________
Health care costs with Medicaid
Balance _____-$350_____________ Spent=$2281
______$221____________
Showcase Showdown!
We can see that it is nearly impossible to make ends meet on $23,000 a year for a family of four. What
does it ACTUALLY cost for a family of four to meet their most basic of needs for a year?
_________$53,342________
Monthly Expenses Worksheet
Can you guess the average costs of the necessities listed below?
How far will your monthly income take you?
Monthly income of $1,921
(The monthly income of a family of four living in poverty)
Rent for a two-bedroom apartment
Balance _____________________
_____________________
Average utility costs
Balance _____________________
_____________________
Transportation costs
Balance _____________________
_____________________
Food costs
Balance _____________________
_____________________
Child care costs (with subsidy)
Balance _____________________
_____________________
Health care costs with Medicaid
Balance _____________________
_____________________
Showcase Showdown!
We can see that it is nearly impossible to make ends meet on $23,000 a year for a family of four.
What does it ACTUALLY cost for a family of four to meet their most basic of needs for a year?
_____________________
Sample Script for Bid Items

Rent for a two-bedroom apartment
This is the AVERAGE cost for a month’s rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the Triangle.

Utilities
The average cost for water and electricity for a month.

Transportation
very far)


The average cost for a month’s used car payment, insurance, and gas.
(People tend to get carried away with this one, so let them know that this is not a nice car and you’re not traveling
Food Costs
The average cost of food for a month. You are not paying for baby formula, this is just normal food.
Child care (with subsidy)
This is before and after school care for your two school age children (so not for the whole day), after the subsidy.
The subsidy is a percentage of your income, so it depends on what you’re making. Sometimes
people want you to tell
them how much the subsidy is, but we don’t have that information. Just let them
know it’s a percentage of what they’re
paying, and that answer is usually satisfying enough.
People tend to get carried away with this one too, so let them know this is not a 5 star day care.

Healthcare (with Medicaid)
What you pay for your family of four for a month. You’re on Medicaid, but even on Medicaid you still have
to pay co-pays and for prescriptions.

What it actually costs for a family of four to meet their basic needs for a WHOLE YEAR
Don’t let the audience help the people at the front. Remind them that this is the cost for the WHOLE
that we know it has to be higher than $23,000. They still can’t go over the actual cost.
YEAR, and
Sample Discussion Questions




What are some United Way Partner Agencies that
could help this family get by each month?
What were your feelings as you saw each answer
revealed? Shocked? Surprised? Sad? Angry?
Which one of these needs did you find the costs so
surprising?
How do you think this family feels at the end of
each month when they are unable to spend any
extra money or buy gifts for their children?
Sample Facts to Incorporate






The government defines poverty as a family of 4 earning $23,000 a year.
In reality, it costs a family of four $53,342 a year just to meet the basic
needs.
Currently 203,007 people in the Triangle live in poverty. Of that number,
65,264 are children under the age of 18.
Poverty is not just a lack of finances; it is a lack of resources. With the
resources provided by the 149 UWGT funded programs, a family is able
to stretch its finances and provide a better life for their family and hope for
their community.
The United Way of the Greater Triangle is now helping nearly half a
million people right here in the Triangle.
Without the resources to meet basic needs, there are strains on physical
health, increased mental stress, and los of work and family relationships.
The recession in 2008 resulted in a 25% increase in poverty and we are at
the highest level of poverty in the US since 1964.
Tips for Success





Remind the contestants/audience of the balance left after each
need is met concerning the monthly income of $1,921 provided.
Keep the audience engaged and allow conversation about what
feelings arise during the activity
Be sure to connect how your local United Way works to alleviate
poverty by funding programs focused on providing resources and
opportunities for people in need.
Appoint a high-energy facilitator to make the game fun and
interesting
Be prepared to answer questions about the details of the
categories. If you don’t know an answer make sure you follow up to
find out that answer for the next time you play and to inform the
individual with the original question.
How to Make the Price of Life Game
Board Display

Materials
 Tri-fold
project board
 Cardboard
 Sticky Velcro
 Paper
 Cardstock
 Clip for Mountain Climber
 Scissors
 Tape
Example Game Board Display without Answers
Paper
Sticky Velcro
strips
Cardstock
Tri-fold project
display board
Cardboard
Velcro is attached on the
board and on the answers
so the facilitator can stick
the answers on the board
as he or she goes through
each category.
Cardboard
supports
To give our mountain a 3-dimentional appearance we supported the mountain with pieces of
cardboard. This way our mountain climber could easily go up the mountain.
How to Make the Mountain Climber
Print a picture of a mountain climber. Glue the picture to a piece of cardboard. Cut
around the outside of the mountain climber. Tape the mountain climber to a small clip.
We used a refrigerator magnet clip for our mountain climber.