8th Grade Reality Store Experience
Each spring, 8th-grade students at Columbus Catholic Schools attend the Marshfield Area Reality Store, hosted by MACCI. This unique event offers students a hands-on experience to learn about the financial responsibilities of adult life.
The Reality Store simulates “real life,” providing students with the opportunity to create a monthly budget and understand the cost of everyday living. Students are assigned a gross income, marital status, family situation, and benefits before the store opens.
The first lesson students learn is how to calculate their net monthly income from their gross salary. Armed with this information, students visit the store to budget for essentials such as a mortgage, groceries, and other household expenses.
This experience helps students understand the financial decisions adults face and is a valuable tool in preparing them for the future.