District 27A Rep. Shannon Savick, DFL-Wells, was one of five state House members who started a week-long challenge to live within the means of a minimum wage earner.

Throughout the seven-day challenge, which ends Monday, Savick set a budget based on food, housing, transportation and other expenses and was expected to go grocery shopping and search for affordable housing within the low-wage income.

“This experience will help us realize what it’s like to live on those low wages,” Savick said. “For many of us in Minnesota, we forget just how little many Minnesotans have to live on.”

She and the other participating legislators plan to meet Monday with low-wage workers to talk about their experiences.

The day after the challenge ends, the legislative session will begin.