minimum wage challenge: the toolkit 
To participate in the Minimum Wage Challenge...
Start By Signing Up...NOW!
Complete the Minimum Wage Pledge form on-line:

Then - during the MINIMUM WAGE CHALLENGE, Oct 5-11, 2014 
1. Download a Minimum Wage Checkbook
The ‘checkbook’ will help you to track your daily expenses.  
  • Assume your ‘checking account’ has a starting balance of $77.  You are allowed overdrafts, so keep going even if you reach your $77 limit.  
  • Once you have exceeded $77, your running total should be shown in negative numbers. We hope this will help you engage in mindful spending during the week, see how early in the week you exceed $77
  • At the end of the week, let you know how far beyond $77 your weekly spending takes you!
2. Let Us Know How It's Going!
Post something to WFVJ's Minimum Wage Challenge Blog on FaceBook each day with your experiences. 
  • Answer the question, “how would my day have been different if I had only $11 to spend?”  
  • What did you have to forgo?
  • How far into the day did you get before you exceeded your budget?
3. Follow Us on FaceBook and Twitter
Find us on Facebook at WisconsinFaithVoicesForJustice
and on Twitter @WIfaithvoices
  • Use the hashtag #raisethewage and join the conversation
4. Share the Challenge with Others!
We encourage clergy and congregations to make workers’ rights, and especially raising the minimum wage, a major focus during the Minimum Wage Challenge. Insert our Minimum Wage Challenge flyer into your congregation’s bulletin. Worker Justice Wisconsin's Labor in the Pulpit offers denominational specific worship resources. Then, share your sermons on the Minimum Wage Blog to inspire others
Letter to the Editor Talking Points
Remember to keep letters short (no more than 200 words) and to include your name, address, email, and phone number for the Letters editor in case they want to contact you before publishing your letter.
For Minimum Wage Workers:
Tell your personal story
  • What job or jobs do you hold?
  • How many hours do you work each week?
  • How much do you get paid per week?
  • What does this mean for you in having to make choices about what you can afford?
  • “If I made a true living wage, how would my life be different in terms of…”
  • Having more choices without having to worry about being able to feed my family, and keep a roof over our heads
  • Having more opportunities to pursue education or other goals
  • Feeling secure in being able to support myself and my family
  • Feeling valued and respected for my work
minimum_wage_challenge_lte_talking_points.pdf
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For Minimum Wage Challenge participants:
The reason I chose to take the Challenge…
  • The Minimum Wage Challenge aims to raise awareness of the struggles low-income Wisconsin families face every day to make ends meet
  • By devoting a week to ‘mindful spending’, we engage in the conversation about what it takes not only to meet your basic needs, but to live a life of dignity.
  • By contemplating the question ‘how would my week be different if I really had only $77 for the week?”, we appreciate more what we have, and are inspired to advocate for a living wage for all.
  • If minimum wage had kept up with the cost of living, and also took into account worker productivity, many economists believe it should be closer to $18/hr.
  • No one living in this, the richest country in the world, working a full-time job, should have to choose between food and medicine; between rent and the electric bill.