"All my expenses cost more than I ever really thought!" is a comment expressed by young people who have participated in the "Welcome to the Real World" program. This active, hands-on real-life simulation gives young people the opportunity to explore career opportunities, make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those adults face on a daily basis and evaluate the choices they have made.

During the "Real World" program students explore potential careers they would like to pursue in the future. After they choose a career, they receive a monthly salary for that career and then proceed through the "Real World" simulation, deducting taxes, determining a savings amount, and spending their monthly "salary" on the necessary and luxury items that reflect the career and lifestyle they have chosen. Students also learn check writing and balancing, savings, budgeting and developing a spending plan.

The program can be done in several forms:

• One day format with 3 sessions
• Six sessions
• Three sessions
• Nine sessions

Instructional Materials

Extension Educators in Consumer and Family Economics and Youth Development may be available to assist in teaching portions of this program. Fact sheets as well as an Instructor's Guide are included in the "Welcome to the Real World" materials. Schools will need to secure educational pads of checks from local banks. Cost of notebook with reproducible masters (so that schools can do this on their own) is $40.

Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards

05A. Locate, organize, and use information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.

05B. Analyze and evaluate information acquired from various sources.

05C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

15A. Understand how different economic systems operate in the exchange, production, distribution and consumption of goods and services

15B. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers

15C. Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by producers

15D. Understand trade as an exchange of goods or services.