About

Teach Students Money Expo

 

Teach Students Money Expo is an experiential learning capstone for 13 to 18-year-old students that combines high-energy, interactive sessions to educate students on real-world financial life skills.

 

Through this "Real World" simulation, students move to a new city, "EightVille," and assume the role of 28-year-olds in Central Florida, who are provided a credit score and monthly salary for their chosen education, career, and family scenario. Students must visit each storefront and make decisions concerning their standard of living (e.g., a one-bedroom apartment versus a three-bedroom home) and prioritize needs versus wants to adapt to life's complications without permanent consequences.

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The simulation represents businesses in the community and a host of volunteers operating 20 storefronts. Students spend their salaries on items typically found in a monthly budget by visiting the appropriate storefront, including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, childcare, and transportation. Like all adults, students must keep track of their finances throughout the timed activity and attempt to complete the simulation with a positive balance. Students sit with a financial counselor during the post-simulation lesson to reflect on their experience and review their financial decisions.