Real Money. Real World. (RMRW) is a financial literacy program for youth from Ohio State University Extension and 4-H Youth Development. It can be used with youth ages 12 – 18. This curriculum is time tested and has been highly successful because of the creative community efforts of Extension professionals, local school teachers, and community volunteers.
Real Money. Real World. is fun and distinctive because it includes an interactive spending simulation that provides the opportunity to make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those made by 27-year-old adults. As a program of Ohio State University Extension, the most preferred and successful RMRW programs are partnerships of the county OSU Extension office, the school, and the business community.
The interactive simulation follows a series of four classroom lessons that government teachers Bob Priest (VWCS) and Kevin Losh (Lincolnview) have taught to their graduating seniors. Students make decisions based on being the main source of income for their family such as transportation, housing, utilities, and even dealing with chance costs such as repairs, or money from family.
The program aims to increase awareness of how education level, and career choices can influence personal income and financial security, the process of managing money, and to develop a sense of how income and lifestyle choices affect discretionary spending.
Things that students encounter during the simulation are modeled after real life, and give students a basic idea of the cost of children, education, and just how expense real life can be. Many of the students gave verbal feedback that they did not realize how much money they have cost their parents, or just how expensive children can be. Childcare was a big topic, and Faith Fabian from Wee Care Day Care helped to explain the costs of childcare and why is costs so much. Throughout the day the program interacted with over 35 Lincolnview Seniors and 85 Van Wert Seniors.
The OSU Extension office would like to thank Ag Credit of Van Wert for their generous financial contribution to support the program. The donation of time and energy from the community and businesses are greatly appreciated and give the program a local feel for those students involved. Thank you to Bee Gee Realty, Wee Care Day Care, Lee Kinstle General Motors, Greve Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-RAM, the City of Van Wert, WERT Radio, Van Wert Federal, Maurices,Purebred Publishing, Central Mutual, and Ag Credit for their generous donation of time during this event.
Picture Caption: Dave Roach works with seniors to decide which communications plan would be best suited for them during the RMRW simulation held on Monday, May 12, 2014.
