When I Grow Up! WebQuest for 6 th grade students Created by: Sandra Ball Northampton Community College

Introduction Rules, rules, rules! Your parents give you no privacy and you cant wait to get a place of your own someday. Things will be different. It’ll be your money to do what you want when you want! Think its that easy? In this task you will see what its like to move out for the first time. In this reality check you’ll have your own money but you’ll need to establish a few essentials before you can spend, spend, spend.

Task You’ve always wanted to live in Miami, Florida. This will be your destination. First you need to find a job. After all, your place is your responsibility. Next you will need to find a place to live. Now you will need to find a car of your own to get you to your new job. Since you need money to pay for groceries and general expenses, your goal will be to have 30% of your annual salary left over after you’ve found a place to live and a car. At the end of your quest you will create an essay explaining your career choice, apartment, car and how much money you have left over each month.

The Process: Step 1 Find a job. Assume you have completed your Bachelors degree in any subject you choose. You do not have any experience or any advanced degree. Your source of finding a job will be Search for an entry level position in your field of study. Assume you get the position applied for. Here are the rules to keep in mind: –Your job must found on Career Builder. –It must be within 50 miles from Miami. –Salary or pay must be listed. If an hourly rate is provided, multiply that amount by 2080 to get your annual pay. –Read the qualifications. Remember, you have a Bachelors but no experience. –If you cant find a job in your field you must find a job doing something. Even if its flipping burgers! In the real world Mom and Dad provide no allowance! –List the “Reference ID #” found on the job listing.

The Process: Step 2 Once you’ve found a job you will need to find a place to live. Since you do not have enough savings to purchase a home of your own you will rent an apartment from Here’s how it works –Search for Miami and choose Miami, FL. Click on the apartment of your choice and click on the “check availability” button. –Your budget for rent will be at a max of 50% of your monthly gross income. To find that you take your annual salary and divide by 12. That is your monthly gross income. Your rent will need to be no more then 50% of that. The lower your rent the more you have in your pocket. –Assume you will not have any roommates and will be footing the bill on your own. –Provide the address and monthly rent.

The Process: Step 3 Now you will need to find a car to get you from home to work. Assume you have good credit, are of legal driving age and have secured insurance. Go to Choose “New and Use Inventory” then enter the zip code from the apartment you are now living in. Assume the price is non negotiable. You cant pay cash for the car so you will be financing the cost with a 4 year loan at 5% interest. To simplify this process, take the total cost add 5% then divide by 48. This is your monthly payment. Your monthly payment can be no more then 20% of your gross monthly income. Please list make, model and VIN number.

Conclusion Now let’s see how much money you have left over. Monthly Gross Income -Monthly Rent -Monthly Car Payment What you have left over With this money left over you will need to pay for things such as: groceries, gas, electric/water if not included in rent, cable TV, cell phone bill, car insurance, and other necessities. After you’ve paid all your bills then you can go out and have fun … and buy whatever you want when you want without permission from your parents.

Evaluation This is a chart of your expected progress. Grades will be based on the following points: 16 – 14A 14 – 11B 10 – 8C 7 – 5D 4 – 0F Great 4Good 3Fair 2Poor 1 Securing a job You found a job you love within 10 miles You found a job you like within 50 miles You found a job you hate at minimum wage You cant find a job Finding an apartment Great place includes heat/water up to 50% of pay No utilities included and paying up to 50% of pay No utilities and high rent over 50% of pay Staying home to live with parents Finding a car Car of your dreams, low mileage at 20% of pay Love the car but went over budget to 35% of pay Got ripped off and are paying over 35% of your pay Dad can I borrow the car? Having money left over You have at least 30% of your pay left over Splurged on your place and car so have less then 30% Bad job, high rent, bad car. Plus you have 10% or less to live on Still mowing the lawn for your allowance

Teachers This WebQuest is designed for 6 th grade math students. Materials needed: –Computer with internet access –Pen/pencil, calculator and paper This WebQuest was created using Microsoft PowerPoint Website links – – – Clipart Resource – en-us/images/??cag=1http://office.microsoft.com/ en-us/images/??cag=1 WebQuest was designed by Sandra Ball, 2011