The Webster County Cooperative Extension Service hosted a financial simulation program, "It's Your Reality," for 141 seventh grade students at the Webster County Middle School. "It's Your Reality" introduces students to the financial realities associated with adulthood - provision of food, clothing, shelter, etc. for a family and how these relate to career choices. Students received the equivalent of one month's salary for the career they intend to have after graduation. Participants went thru booths manned by volunteers to purchase their housing, clothing, insurance, transportation, childcare etc. By the end of the simulation, students understood the correlation between career, lifestyle and education.

Ninety-six percent of the students increased their knowledge on how to balance income and expenses in order to maintain a household. Ninety-six percent also increased their skills on how to budget their money.