About 1,000 students at Reidsville High School learned some important life lessons on Tuesday thanks to American Partners FCU. The students went through the Real Money, Real World (RMRW) simulation, which allows students to make important financial choices using a pre-determined career path and income level.
Developed by Ohio State University, Real Money, Real World is an active, hands-on experience that gives young people the opportunity to make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those they will make as adults. Students begin with a set salary that includes the impact of income taxes and other deductions to income. The students then visit various booths, including housing, transportation, insurance, child care and clothing ... and then make a series of "real world" choices based on their "real money" situation.
"It's an eye-opener for the students, because they learn how fast the money goes - especially when they don't have a lot of income to begin with," said APFCU Marketing Manager Stephanie Chism. American Partners, which operates an in-school branch at Reidsville High, conducted RMRW last year and decided to repeat it this year.
"Just about every student went through the program, and some completed the exercise more than once," Chism said of the 850-student high school. "We think it's a great way for students to experience first-hand how different career and life choices impact their quality of life."