Life skills/soft skills are things that many students miss out on in school and in the classroom due to

testing requirements. Reality Store provides beneficial skills that can be applied to a student’s life and

directly impact their ability to function as a successful community member.

Casey County 4-H partners with Youth Services, 21^st Century Learning Center, Community Education,

as well as our three local banks, a grocery store, churches, other local businesses, and the Casey County

Middle School to present the Reality Store program in conjunction with Operation Preparation in the

spring.

The Reality Store program provides 8^th grade students (about 170 students) with the experience of real life-like financial choices and decisions. Prior to the program, representatives from each bank visit the 8^th grade students to provide instruction on how to properly write a check and balance a check book expressing the importance of understanding that you cannot spend money you do not have. The students choose a profession based on their grade point average and are provided with a “faux” monthly salary.

Throughout the program, the students are instructed to make faux monthly purchases based on the necessities of real life - the students are also informed they have a spouse, children and themselves to support. Their monthly expenses include house and vehicle payment, insurance, clothing, groceries, childcare, among other things. The students gain knowledge about money management and life choices and how these can affect their success in adulthood.

After the conclusion of the program, students completed a survey providing information on what they gained by participating in the Reality Store Program:

Prior to participating in the program 44% of students felt Good or Excellent about their understanding on “How to make wise financial decisions”; after the program 87% of students felt Good or Excellent about making these decisions.

Prior to participating in the program 37% of students felt Good or Excellent about understanding the “Impact of credit card debt on future financial choices”; after the program 75% of students felt Good or Excellent about this understanding.

Prior to participating in the program 58% of students felt Good or Excellent about understanding “Saving for future economic goals”; after the program 84% of students felt Good or Excellent.