Newport High School ninth-grader Danny Morgan had some car payment trouble Wednesday.

        The 15-year-old - who had already bought a house - overspent on a new Camaro and went over his monthly police officer's income.

        “I didn't estimate how much money I had being a cop,” he said.

        Fortunately for him, it was all a simulation.

Comparing hypothetical wages and lifestyles are Jeff Pack (left), Dominic Petty and Shawn O'Rafferty. Newport High students were assigned a tough task: living within their income. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Danny was a participant in the Reality Store, held at Newport High School Wednesday to teach ninth-graders the financial realities of the adult world. The event was organized by the Campbell County Extension Office and youth services at Newport High. Students with the highest grades were assigned careers such as doctor or lawyer, and students with lower grades were assigned lower-paying jobs.

        Students were also assigned a number of children.

        With their monthly income in hand, the ninth-graders visited different booths to spend their salary on housing, food, transportation and other expenses.

        Students had to visit every booth - including a tax booth and a “crystal ball” that produced random expenses, such as broken furnaces - and fit their spending into the budget.

        “It's to get them to see the relationship between their studies now and their salary and lifestyle after school,” said Owen Prim, extension agent for 4-H/youth development with the Campbell County Extension Office.

        Mr. Prim said many students were surprised to discover the expense of raising a child.

        “I think it's opening their eyes,” he said.
       

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