The game lets players experience the power and the pitfalls of debt, as well as the sacrifices and security of reserves.
Budgetball is a new kind of "serious game." It uses a bold, fun approach to the task of raising awareness about a serious issue. Instead of creating a simulation of real-world government finance, with all of its complex details, the game embodies the central dynamic of the system - using debt responsibly to achieve a goal.
Budgetball teams have a clearly defined goal and must work together to figure out how to take advantage of the opportunities and advantages available to them - by borrowing or by saving. The game lets players experience the power and the pitfalls of debt, as well as the sacrifices and security of reserves.
Goals of Budgetball:
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Raise Awareness: Call attention to the federal debt as an important issue, prompt dialogue and discussion, and link to parallel issues of personal financial management.
- Fiscal Literacy:Present information in a form and context that avoids the 'tune out' effect.
- Collaborative Problem-Solving: Encourage and reward cooperation, compromise and making tough choices.
Budgetball Game Concepts:
- Both Debt and Savings are important financial tools.
- Debt should be used responsibly.
- A decision to incur debt should take into consideration both the costs and benefits that it will generate in the short-term and the long-term.
- Unpaid debt will cost more and more over time due to compound interest.
- There should be a realistic plan to pay back debt.
- The level of debt incurred should be related to currently available resources and anticipated future resources.
- Savings/surpluses preserve future choices.
- Saving money may require sacrifices in the short-term.
- Savings/surpluses can be used to meet future needs, both planned and unplanned, and to pay off debts.