River View students learn financial skills

River View High School students got a taste of what it’s like to balance money as an adult when they participated in Ohio State University Extension Coshocton County’s Real Money. Real World program.

“They pick a path based on whether they plan to go straight to work after high school or go to a technical school or college,” said Emily Marrison, family and consumer sciences educator with Coshocton County OSU Extension. “I met with them in their class before the program to help prepare them for the concept of it and the choices they were going to have to make.”

During the Real Money. Real World program, volunteers from the community man different booths where students must go to pay for monthly bills and make choices based on real-life situations. They are given an occupation, family situation and salary for what they would make in a month.

Taylor Smith, business coordinator for OhioMeansJobs Coshocton County, worked at the clothing and housing stations. She wished something like this was offered when she was in high school.

“Hopefully, I can give them some perspective as an adult,” Smith said. “I just had to experience things and learn as I went.”

Brett Boyer from Boyer Insurance was another volunteer.

“The kids are surprised, but you know you are giving them an experience to help them see what being an adult will be like,” he said. “It’s really fun and also helps plant a seed with them about saving and investing money early on.”

River View junior Reid Bryson agreed with Boyer.

“It’s a pretty good learning experience,” Bryson said. “I was surprised by how much things cost and how little money I have left.”