Thanks to NGPF intern, Donnesh Farmanfarmaian for sharing his experiences playing the Uber game. 

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The Financial Times recently published a great new game that puts you in the shoes of a San Francisco Uber driver, earning fares to help pay the mortgage (you don't want to know about real estate prices in SF!). As an Uber driver, you have to think as if you are running your own business. Your goal is manage both the revenue side and expenses of "your business" to make a net profit of $1,000 by the end of the week. The dilemmas that periodically pop up really make you feel like you are getting the "real" Uber driver experience. The game feels something like a contemporary Oregon Trail, where your ability to prepare for the coming challenges determines how close you get to reaching your goal.

Here are a few things I took away from playing the game. 

The game starts with players taking on the role of a full-time Uber driver with the added pressure of supporting two kids and a $1,000 mortgage payment due at the end of the week. One of the first decisions you make is to play in EASY or HARD mode. With EASY mode, you live in San Francisco and have good credit, while in HARD mode you live in Sacramento with poor credit. 

The first time I played the game I did pretty shamefully, even though I chose EASY mode. Here is how the game unfolded. 

In the set-up to the game, you also get to decide between which two cars to rent (most Uber drivers are renting the vehicles that they are driving). You can choose a Toyota Prius or a Dodge Minivan, with each option having their own perks and drawbacks. The first time I played, I chose to drive the Dodge Minivan. Why? Although it was the more expensive option, it made me eligible for Uber XL rides, which gave me an additional end-game bonus. 

Before starting to earn some money, you choose supplies and preparations to take driving with you [think of these as investments], ranging from cleaning supplies to a gym membership. I chose to pay for an unlimited data plan ($20/week), phone mount and charging cords ($25), and a business license ($91). I anticipated these would be worthwhile investments, and I thought having a license would guarantee I was running a legitimate business.

Then the game starts and I was immediately making decisions including...

• Dealing with messy/drunken passengers
• Working longer hours or spending time helping your son with his homework
• Whether or not to report damages to Uber.

I quickly realized several of the problems I encountered could have been avoided by buying cleaning supplies at the start of the game, or saving my gas receipts to get tax deductions. Along with these chance events, I had an opportunity to pursue two driving quests, which pay bonuses if I could reach a quota of rides. These are placed in the game to simulate real bonuses Uber distributes, to provide incentives for drivers to drive more. This gamification of the driving experience certainly worked as a motivational tool. While I was able to complete the weekday quest for a $180 bonus, I didn’t complete the weekend allotment, coming frustratingly close with 64 rides when the quota was 65. Aargh!!!

When the week ended my total rides were tallied I had driven 56 hours for an income of $1,300. By driving the Dodge Minivan with UberXL, I got an additional $56 bonus, but the cost of choosing the more expensive car was greater by $9, not including how much I spent on additional gas by choosing the less fuel-efficient model. Subtracting the costs of rental, repairs and gas, I was left with a net profit of only $615, which comes to $10.98 an hour.

Sadly, all my hard work seemed pretty fruitless, as I was driving for less than minimum wage and still came $400 short on my mortgage.

 
I decided to take my newfound wisdom and try my luck on HARD mode this time.

Thankfully, I did much better my second time through:

How did I do it? In what can best be described as an unsustainable pace, I drove for close to 80 hours in a week to make my mortgage payment. 

What did I take away from my experience as an Uber driver? While it may seem like an easy way to make some money, with Uber and other ride-sharing services after expenses are taken into account, you often earn less than a minimum wage job. While I "won" my second time through the game, I only made marginally above minimum wage, and drove for close to 80 hours. Working such long shifts without taking any days off isn’t glamorous (and is probably dangerous too!) While the game simulates a week of intensive driving, it neglects to show the adverse effects and built-up fatigue that would occur.

My main takeaway: Ride-sharing can be a good way to supplement your income if you plan to drive a few hours a week but probably not a great full-time job given the financial and mental stresses that come from long hours behind the wheel. 

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

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