Each year America's high schools graduate thousands of young adults who are unprepared to make financial decisions. Real Money. Real World is an active, hands-on experience that gives students the opportunity to make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those they will make as adults. It is intended to be a partnership of the County OSU Extension office, the school/afterschool, and the business community. OSU Extension professionals have developed a curriculum that simulates real-life experiences to help youth achieve financial literacy.  Real Money. Real World consists of the following lessons:

  •  How Occupation Affects Income
  •  Deductions—What You See Is Not What You Get
  •  How to Use Checking and Savings Accounts                                                 
  •  Making Choices:  Preparing for the Simulation
  •  Real Money. Real World Simulation
  •  What Did You Learn?Throughout the duration of the program students assume the role of a 25-year-old adult who is the sole income provider for their family. They are given an occupation, a monthly salary, and a number of children to raise. Students learn to subtract savings, taxes, and health insurance amounts from their income. The amount of money left over is what they have to spend during the simulation activity. The simulation involves community volunteers who represent actual businesses in the community, and these volunteers set up and staff booths representing real-life businesses. By visiting the appropriate booths, students spend their salaries on items typically found in a monthly budget including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, childcare, and transportation. Throughout the activity, students keep track of their finances and attempt to complete the simulation with a positive balance. During the post-simulation lesson, students reflect on their experience and what they learned by completing a self-assessment. 

If you are a Franklin County 6th to 12 grade educator or afterschool provider, and you want to learn more about using Real Money. Real World in your setting, click here or contact Lindsey Latscha, latscha.1@osu.edu, or 614-247-7733.    

Thanks to a partnership with Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) is able to offer Real Money, Real World online. Please click here to learn more.