For example: $1.99 of real-life money will get you about $3,000 of in-game cash. Since I started playing about a month ago I’d guess that I’ve spent about $50, which – considering the game’s prices - is kind of a remarkable show of restraint. I swear, I never thought I would be the kind of person who makes in-game purchases on a home-design app, and I’m still grappling with what that says about me. But in recent months, in addition to regular payments to Netflix, Hulu, Uber, Amazon, Big Avocado Toast, and my 401(k) (maybe? I think?), I’ve also begun spending a sizable chunk of change on the iPhone interior-decor game Design Home.įor the uninitiated, Design Home lets you design rooms, and then other players (seemingly entirely women, based on their avatars) vote on them, which affects your overall points score as a “designer.” As many have pointed out, it’s like the part of the Sims when you design houses, except the game uses furniture from real designers, and instead of just typing “rosebud” and getting unlimited money you have to pay for the furniture out of your CitiBank savings account labeled “ANNA DO NOT SPEND - FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY.” At the end of each month, I review my recurring expenses, consider cutting back, and then change nothing. I am an adult, so naturally, I at least try to be responsible about money.