Eighth-graders in Bethany Bishop’s Family and Consumer Science class at Montevallo Middle School enjoyed participating in the Reality Check program presented by Alabama’s Cooperative Extension Service on Monday, September 21.  Students were randomly assigned careers and salaries and were responsible for budgeting various monthly expenses.

Their required expenses included housing, transportation, utilities, insurance, groceries, and childcare.  Optional expenses were offered as well, which included entertainment, shopping, donations, and furthering their education.

“Students were surprised by the amount of money required to maintain an average American lifestyle,” said Bishop. “Said one student about his fictional child, ‘This kid is draining me dry!’”