Through Welcome to the Real World! students learn:
- how spending influences quality of life.
- how education impacts income.
- how budgeting—and planning—can increase available money.
Each student is assigned an educational level, job, marital status, and children.
Once “payday” comes, students discover they have many expenses to cover:
- cell phones
- housing
- childcare
- insurance
- clothing
- internet
- credit card debt
- personal care
- emergencies
- savings
- entertainment
- taxes
- groceries
- transportation
- healthcare
- utilities
Students move around the stations, spend their money, and talk about their financial decisions.
Students want to spend money on the things they want, but Welcome to the Real World! shows them what’s realistic and how to balance wants with true necessities.
Thank you to Steven Tucker, Laura Reed, Trent Barrett, Mason Drewery, Amber Dauzat, and Lacy Hudspeth - MSU Extension Agents and Randy Roberts of the Pontotoc County Sheriff's Department for providing this special program for our students.