Reality TownReality Town

Did you ever wish that you Did you ever wish that you had been taught the had been taught the

importance ofimportance offinancial responsibilityfinancial responsibility

beforebefore you wereyou werean adult? an adult?

Reality Town gives Reality Town gives students a glimpse students a glimpse into the world of into the world of

adult financialadult financialresponsibilities responsibilities

Reality Town is a “Real Life” Reality Town is a “Real Life” simulation where students:simulation where students:

Choose a job according to their GPAChoose a job according to their GPA Receive an average monthly salary Receive an average monthly salary

for the jobfor the job Receive a family scenario with Receive a family scenario with

spouse, children, and life spouse, children, and life circumstances (assigned randomly)circumstances (assigned randomly)

Buy a home, pay for transportation, Buy a home, pay for transportation, utilities, groceries, medical and utilities, groceries, medical and dental bills, and other expenses dental bills, and other expenses

Students have been Students have been preparing for Reality Town preparing for Reality Town

at school:at school: Students have learned how to fill Students have learned how to fill

out a job applicationout a job application Students have learned how to write Students have learned how to write

a resumea resume Students have learned how to write Students have learned how to write

a check and balance a check book a check and balance a check book Students have learned about gross Students have learned about gross

and net income and net income

Booths at Reality Town:Booths at Reality Town:

HousingHousing Property TaxesProperty Taxes UtilitiesUtilities Home Home

ImprovementImprovement TransportationTransportation Car InsuranceCar Insurance GroceriesGroceries ClothingClothing Child CareChild Care EntertainmentEntertainment

ClothingClothing UtilitiesUtilities CommunicationCommunication Dental OfficeDental Office Medical OfficeMedical Office Health InsuranceHealth Insurance Health and Health and

GroomingGrooming BankBank DonationsDonations Financial Financial

CounselingCounseling Second JobsSecond Jobs

Students must attend all Students must attend all boothsbooths

except the except the Financial Financial Counseling BoothCounseling Booth

and theand the Supplemental IncomeSupplemental IncomeBooth.Booth.

These are optionalThese are optional and are there to assist and are there to assist

students who need financial students who need financial counseling or helpcounseling or help

The object for the The object for the students is to:students is to:

1. Visit all of the booths, 1. Visit all of the booths, make choices, and pay the make choices, and pay the

expenses at each boothexpenses at each booth

2. Have a positive check 2. Have a positive check balance at the end of the balance at the end of the

experienceexperience

Volunteer Instructions:Volunteer Instructions:

Read and review the instructions Read and review the instructions on your card- Please pay on your card- Please pay attention to the details and attention to the details and understand exactly what you are understand exactly what you are to doto do

If you have questions, please askIf you have questions, please ask Do a practice run at your booth Do a practice run at your booth

before the students come inbefore the students come in

After the student writes After the student writes out a check at your boothout a check at your booth

YOU SHOULD DO THE YOU SHOULD DO THE SUBTRACTIONSUBTRACTION (on the (on the

calculator)calculator)and write the balance in and write the balance in

the student’s check the student’s check register-register-(This will speed up (This will speed up the process and will insure the process and will insure

accuracy)accuracy)

Note: The student will Note: The student will write the check using write the check using

his/her checkbookhis/her checkbookYou will use the check You will use the check

register in the middle of register in the middle of the student’s handbook the student’s handbook

to record the transactionto record the transaction

Volunteer procedure:Volunteer procedure: Find the Job, Family and Life Scenario for Find the Job, Family and Life Scenario for

each student in the front of the each student in the front of the handbook. The spouse and child handbook. The spouse and child information have been randomly information have been randomly assigned. Job is according to student’s assigned. Job is according to student’s choice and is linked to GPA– choice and is linked to GPA– You need to You need to check this scenario because it pertains to check this scenario because it pertains to your boothyour booth

After the student has paid a check for After the student has paid a check for choices he/she has made at your booth, choices he/she has made at your booth, calculate and mark the student’s check calculate and mark the student’s check register in the middle of the handbookregister in the middle of the handbook

Initial the back of the book after the Initial the back of the book after the student hasstudent has finished at your booth so finished at your booth so student knows which booths he/she has student knows which booths he/she has attendedattended

The Student Handbook The Student Handbook containscontains

information about eachinformation about eachbooth so that thebooth so that the

student may look overstudent may look overthe choices the choices and makeand make

decisions while standing decisions while standing in linein line

Transportation and Transportation and Housing Booths typically Housing Booths typically have the longest lines. have the longest lines.

Please keep things Please keep things moving at these booths.moving at these booths.

If your booth is not If your booth is not busy, and you see that busy, and you see that another booth needs another booth needs help, please volunteer help, please volunteer at that booth until the at that booth until the

“student rush” is over. “student rush” is over.

Remember that someRemember that some Special Needs StudentsSpecial Needs Students or or

English as aEnglish as a Foreign Foreign LanguageLanguage students may be students may be coming through your boothcoming through your booth

Please be patient and Please be patient and helpfulhelpful

Thank you for Thank you for volunteering!volunteering!

You are vital to the You are vital to the success of Reality success of Reality

Town!Town!

HAVE FUN!HAVE FUN!

Questions?Questions?