Eighth graders learn practical budgeting skills, local partners lead simulation
Holmes County eighth graders took part in Real Money, Real World, a hands on financial literacy simulation run by OSU Extension and local partners on Oct. 31 at Hiland’s Perry Reese Community Center. The exercise assigned careers, budgets, and household situations to students and guided them through real life trade offs, reinforcing life skills while showcasing local business volunteerism.
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On Oct. 31, Holmes County eighth graders filled Hiland’s Perry Reese Community Center for Real Money, Real World, a hands on financial literacy simulation organized by OSU Extension with local schools and community partners. Students were assigned occupations, monthly budgets, and family scenarios then rotated through stations staffed by local business volunteers to experience budgeting decisions often faced by adults.
Stations covered mortgages versus renting, insurance, taxes, child care, groceries, utilities and other routine expenses. Volunteers from local firms including Kaufman Realty and Auction and Killbuck Savings Bank worked alongside educators to explain trade offs and point out hidden costs that can affect household finances. The format forced students to balance competing needs and make choices about lifestyle and spending under realistic constraints.
OSU Extension led the program and provided the curriculum and facilitation. The county event brought together educators, business leaders and volunteers to translate abstract classroom lessons into tangible decision making. OSU Extension educator Kate Shumaker was part of the effort, coordinating with schools and community partners to ensure stations reflected local costs and market conditions.
Students reacted to the simulation by describing the experience as eye opening, noting that confronting real dollar amounts and mandatory expenses changed how they view future choices. Teachers and organizers said the exercise is designed to give young people an early appreciation for financial planning and the consequences of common life decisions, from housing choices to the impact of insurance and taxes on take home pay.
For Holmes County residents, the program has several practical implications. At the individual level it builds essential life skills that are not always covered in core coursework, equipping students with a basic framework for household budgeting before they enter high school and the workforce. At the community level it models a collaborative approach to civic education, leveraging local business expertise and volunteer labor to supplement school resources.
The event also raises policy questions about the role of financial literacy in public education and the capacity of local districts to deliver experiential learning. Programs like Real Money, Real World require volunteer time and coordination, suggesting a need for sustained partnerships and potential support from school boards or county governments to scale similar offerings.
Real life simulations can influence long term civic outcomes by improving economic literacy and encouraging informed participation in local decision making. For Holmes County, the Oct. 31 event demonstrated how educators and businesses can work together to prepare students for practical responsibilities, while highlighting volunteerism as a cornerstone of community based education.
