"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 program is an active, hands-on, real-life simulation which 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 explorepotential 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 "RealWorld" activity, 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, saving, budgeting, and developing a spending plan.

Fact sheets covering the topics above, as well as a teacher's guide, are included with the "Real World" materials. Extension Educators in Consumer and Family Economics and Youth Development are available to train teachers in the use of the curriculum. Call Stephenson County Extension at 235-4125 for further information.