On May 14 volunteers from the OSU Extension Office and CHACO brought the Real Money, Real World simulation to our 8th graders. In the simulation students were given a job, salary, education level, and children to support. They were then sent to different booths where they were to choose things like housing, insurance, food, etc. The goal was to get through these life-like examples with money left over. It was a real eye opener for many students as they had to get "second jobs" to support their financial choices and "family." The resounding comment made by the students after they completed the simulation was, "I didn't know kids were so expensive!" Hopefully this experience gave them something to really think about as they make choices that affect their upcoming high school experience and beyond.
