Personal Finance - Cost of Living Project (Middle & High School)

COST of LIVING PROJECT

**NEW**: This file has been updated so it is now EDITABLE. The pages can be printed for students to complete OR students can type answers into the digital file :)

Purpose:

The purpose of this project is for students to explore expenses they will most likely encounter as adults.

Assignments include exploring cost of ...

* housing

* utilities

* furniture

* college

* vehicle - purchase

* vehicle - related expenses & maintenance

* entertainment

* groceries and eating out

* careers & income

* vacation

* medical costs

* clothing

* making a budget

* and reflection on what was learned

Internet access is a recommended tool to complete the research for many of the assignments. Some resource suggestions and website links are provided. A parent, other adults, and local professionals can also be valuable resources for information.

How to Use This Resource:

This resource is designed to be used as independent or group assignments or as a semester-long personal finance project for one student or multiple students in a homeschool, co-op, club or classroom setting. Students could be directed to complete one or two topics per week. Assignments could be completed:

· At-home with weekly assignments

· At home and discussed during weekly class or club meetings

· In class as individual or small group research

If time allows, a few weeks could be allotted during and/or at the end of the semester or the year to compile all the information for a project presentation. The completed project could be displayed in numerous creative ways.

These could include:

· A binder with completed pages

· Display board with highlights and pictures

· PowerPoint

· Video

· Speech

To earn ½ credit for a high school elective, use this resource along with a course such as Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance for Middle School or Foundations in Personal Finance for High School. This project could also be used in courses such as home economics and economics.