Let's Play A Game

My friend has been blogging lately about unemployment and the stresses of the eternal job search.  Yup.  And yesterday I read that the definition of poverty for a family of four is about $22,000.00 per year.  Yup-a-rama.  Since I am unemployed and have no income at all I qualify to play this brand new game.

LET'S PRETEND 2011 STYLE

First, let's pretend that a family of four (Mommy, Daddy, and the Two Perky Children) can even find an apartment for $500.00 per month.  Plus first and last month's security that's $1,500.00 just to begin.  That means both kids share a bedroom because there is one if they are lucky.  Mom and Dad sleep on a mattress on the floor or a pull out sofa in the living room.  Clothes and belongings that have been saved or salvaged are kept in boxes.  The boxes serve as end tables and homework desks.  Privacy?  Don't make me laugh.

Now let us imagine that you can feed this little group for $400.00 per month.  That's $4,800.00.  No Big Macs, no double shot lattes, no pizza nights with friends.  Lots of mac and cheese from a box, rice, beans, watered down milk, boxed cereal, and canned tuna.  Eggs if they are lucky.  Fresh fruit and vegetables if they are really lucky.  It means scouting out food pantries and waiting in lines.  It means humbling oneself and attempting to decode the requirements for LINK, or TANF, or welfare, or food stamps.  Whatever the name of the program that helps so much but is simply not sufficient.  Thanks, but those kids cannot eat good intentions.

Third, let's figure at least $100.00 a month for transportation.  If there is a vehicle it is at least ten years old and is one "check engine" light away from being totalled.  Needed repairs haven't been done in years.  Bus fare to and from the food pantries, job fairs, school for the kids, clinics and government offices easily comes to $1,200.00 per year.

Now let's really go out on a limb and say $100.00 a month for utilities.  Heat and electric.  That means going to bed as soon as it gets dark, leaving the lights off for night time bathroom jaunts, no video games, no i-anything, no internet at home, and sweating your guts out in the summer because you are terrified at how much the AC (if there is AC) will add to the bill.  Another $1,200.00 for the year.

I'm getting really angry right now and don't want to play anymore.  But, hey, let's go one more round.  Let's pretend only one child has a chronic medical condition.  Diabetes, or asthma, or even something everyday like being near sighted.  $300.00 per month for medical care (at a clinic) and prescriptions seems grossly underestimated.  $3,600.00 for a year at least.

What are other unavoidable expenses with children?  School supplies.  Shoes and boots.  Toothpaste.  Field trip with the class. Soap and shampoo.Brown paper lunch bags. After school clubs and ballet lessons.  (Oh, right, I forgot.  Poor folks don't get to dance or play football.) $100.00 seems conservative and I've probably forgotten a jillion things that kids need day to day.  Not luxuries like conditioner or a brand new back pack.  Necessities like toilet paper.  There goes another $1.200.00.

Grand Total:$19.000.00.  That leaves $3,000.00.  Sounds like a lot.  Do Christmas, and Halloween, and birthdays.  Have one extra medical crisis.  One extra car repair.  Miss one government appointment or deadline.  Let the rent get raised or gas prices go up.  Let it snow or rain or hail or hurricane or earthquake  Because it will and then our Imaginary Family is so fucking screwed. 

Good thing this was just a game, eh?  Oh right:  IT ISN'T A GAME FOR 24 MILLION PEOPLE!  They're hungry and scared and pretty soon they and their kids are going to be really, really cold.