"All my expenses cost more than I ever thought."

"I'm going to pick a different career."

These comments are feedback by young people who have participated in the Welcome to the Real World! program. This program puts students into the world of a 25-year-old, single, employed, independent person. The participants make decisions about housing, vehicles, utilities, insurance, entertainment and other living expenses. The participants simulate financial decisions and expenses for one month. They write checks, reconcile their account, and try to save. This hands-on experience is a reality check for most teens.

Students are active participants in:

• Exploring careers available to them.
• Investigating how career choices can be influenced by education and other factors.
• Making consumer choices related to future independent living.
• Learning skills needed to manage their finances.

Materials Available: Lesson plans, masters, and simulation supplies are available for loan from Extension Office. Training is provided for teachers. Extension Youth Development Educator is available to present specific sessions in the classroom.

Duration: Varies from one to nine sessions.

Illinois Learning Standards: Mathematics: 6A - Demonstrate knowledge and use of numbers and their representations in a broad range of theoretical and practical settings. 6C - Compute and estimate using mental mathematics, paper-and-pencil methods, calculators and computers. Social Science: 15B - Understand that scarcity necessitates choices by consumers. 18B - Understand the roles and interactions of individuals and groups in society