By Emily Shearer and Pam Messmore

Lake City Bank helped Lakeview Middle School students get a taste of their future on May 15 at the Reality Store, a financial simulation game.

Mr. Todd Braddock, Mr. Dennis Hershberger, Miss Emily Shearer and Mrs. Betsey Vastbinder’s classes participated in Reality Store. Students were assigned a career and income, marital status and dependents and then had to make decisions about their lifestyles while staying within their assigned budget.

“Reality Store engaged the students and produced great conversations in class about how expensive children are, making wise choices about how much money is spent on entertainment and eating out. The students realized your money goes when paying for housing, child care and insurance, especially if you had a lower paying career,” said Shearer.

Students visited various stations to make choices about housing, groceries, clothing, cars, child care, entertainment, etc. It was a fun way for students to learn about financial responsibility and life choices. Skyla Brown, an 8th grader in Miss Shearer’s Family and Consumer Sciences Career class said, “Reality store helped me realize the responsibilities I will have in the future and for many students the experience was mind opening at what our parents do every day.”

After completing the game, most students recognized the importance of getting a good education and the reality that the hot sports car was probably out of reach.

Braddock says, “Reality Store gave 7th grade students at Lakeview Middle School a first-hand glimpse of the importance of budgeting, making smart financial choices, and the day to day expenses of everyday life. Lakeview students benefited greatly from this experience and we appreciate Lake City Bank for donating their time to help out our students during this important learning experience.

If you would like to schedule a Reality Store at your school, contact Vanessa Barber at Lake City Bank, 574-267-9198, ext. 6582.