This week, the students from Springboro Junior High's (SJHS) Career and Consumer Concepts Class participated in the "Real Money, Real World" simulation, through the Ohio State University (OSU) Extension.
The program is an interactive, hands-on experience providing 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to make simulated lifestyle and budget choices similar to those adults face on a daily basis.
SJHS students were given an occupation, spouse, and the option of children. Each student had to calculate payroll deductions, deposit money into savings, invest for retirement, and create a budget. The students then went to the simulation and spent their remaining income for housing, transportation, food, clothing, insurance, and child care.
Students that ran out of money had to get financial assistance to see if they qualified for government assistance or if they needed to get a second job. Different stations were setup with representatives at each booth to explain the choices available to the students for that particular topic.