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Asheville Middle School's Reality Store
Learn More = Earn More. It’s a simple saying but one our Asheville Middle School 6th Graders are taking to heart after the Apri 26th Reality Store. The interactive event connected financial literacy with real-world experiences like “purchasing” water, electricity, car insurance and daycare from stores set-up in the gym.
This morning, students were randomly assigned a job, monthly salary and number of children. From there, it was up to them to figure out how to pay for both their wants and needs.
“Life is hard,” said 6th Grader Hayes. “Childcare. Rent. Water. Everything costs way more than I expected.”
Classmate Kamiyah echoed his observation. “I’m a geographer who makes $3,600 a month with one child. But, the house with a power bill, water, food and childcare, it’s so much. My money’s going down with each item.”
Indeed, the crash course in budgeting had our students looking at what their parents do for them in a new light.
“I can’t image what my parents go through,” said Kamiyah. “This is really hard.”