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What is the "Central Wisconsin Reality Store?"
The Central Wisconsin Reality Store is designed to provide students with
a glimpse of how much things cost and how quickly they add up. It is a
game of "real life."
The store provides eighth grade students with an opportunity to create a
monthly budget. Before the store opens students are assigned a gross income,
marital, family and benefit status. The first lesson students learn is how
to calculate their net monthly income from a gross salary. With this
information, students visit the store to create a monthly budget that includes
mortgage, groceries, and everything else a household faces. It is an
invaluable piece in helping students put the puzzle of their future together.
The store is "staffed" by area business representatives who "sell" their services
to the students. For example, realtors sell houses, car dealers sell vehicles,
and insurance salesmen offer coverage. While in the store, students have to
arrange for day care services, pay municipal taxes and order telephone and
electric service as they prepare a monthly budget.
Two full day stores are held each spring for Auburndale, Granton, Greenwood,
Immanuel Lutheran, Loyal, Marshfield Public and Catholic, Pittsville, Spencer,
and Trinity Lutheran School Districts. More than 50 business volunteers help
with bringing this hands-on learning experience to area students.
Comments
- "I liked learning how to spend wisely… it was a fun real world experience."
- "I enjoyed figuring out how to manage my money."
- "I liked the experience of knowing what my parents go through."
- "It was a great opportunity… thank you!"
- "I had a good time and learned a lot about financial choices."
- "Thank you very much for creating the reality store. As a parent, it was very rewarding to hear my son talk about this activity and how it relates to his future. He specifically commented on the costs of day care, the need for health insurance, not being able to afford the car he really wanted, and seeing that education is needed for a high paying job."
Please contact us with
questions and/or comments.
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