A recent study from Harris Interactive revealed that 80% of parents believe that their children are being taught personal money matters in school, yet 90% of high school students and 87% of college students say that whatever they know about money they learn from their parents. Statistics find that most children merely imitate the saving and spending habits they see modeled at home. The Knox County 4-H program responded to requests by teachers for consumer programs by collaborating with the Youth Service Center and other local businesses to offer the 4-H Reality Store, a real-life simulation and budgeting activity.
15 volunteers led approximately 180 students through the program where they received a monthly income based on their highlighted career choice. Students were given the challenge to budget their income so that they could make purchases at each of the different booths including transportation, child care, utilities, health insurance and more. When the program began, a pre-test of participants revealed that 70 percent of students understood the concept of a budget, while 90 percent understood the differences between needs and wants. At the end of the program, 

• 77 percent had a greater understanding of the cost of living.
• 86 percent understood that their performance in school could greatly impact their future earnings and understood the correlation between school performance, future jobs, and future income.
• 90 percent understood the importance of continuing their education or training in a skilled trade.