Most youth, and many adults, have no understanding of how much it costs to survive on a daily basis. The expense of living is not something most of these youth are thinking about when they are in school, so they do not stop to consider how the decisions they make now will affect their level of comfort when they are adults. Many do not make the connection between school grades, GPA, level of education, and whether or not they can afford groceries when they are on their own. 

In Owen County, 25% of children live in poverty, according to the 2017 Kentucky Kids Count Data. Data from the Department of Numbers shows that in 2017 the median family income in Kentucky is $48,375. With this information, there is a great need for youth to experience a reality check.  Owen County 4-H features the Reality Store Program for 8^th Grade earlier than done in previous years in December in an attempt to make youth aware of the cost of living and encourage them to consider their grades and future schooling plans.  By completing this program earlier in the school year, youth are given a chance to put into action what they have learned from the Reality Store Program.  The long-term goal is for these youth to become adults with higher paying jobs and for the county to experience less poverty. After this year’s program, 126 out of 148 students reported learning quite a bit or more about the type of education needed to get the jobs they want. One-hundred-fifteen youth responded they learned a lot about how the type of job they will have will affect how much money they will make, as well as how the amount of income will determine their lifestyle. The youth participants had the opportunity to list things they learned from their Reality Store experience. At least 45 remarked they discovered how much it costs to have children, with many vowing not to ever have them. Most mentioned how they became aware how expensive life costs overall, with one youth pointing out how much of a struggle it was even though they had a “good job.” One Student made the comment that “living as an adult is harder than it looks”.  An evaluation was completed that the end by every student where one student wrote that they learned “how to manage money and how my job choice matters”.  Volunteers were also given the opportunity to evaluate the program. One hundred percent agreed the program is beneficial to the students, with many labeling it as an “eye opener” or “reality check.” One volunteered summed up their thoughts by saying, “It makes the students think about the many costs of adulthood and being able to afford the life they want as well as pay for what they need.”