Online educational game teaches students basic foundations of financial literacy

July 10, 2012

Show Me the Future, Mapping Your Future's online life skills and financial literacy game, continues to provide educators with an online educational game to teach students about the differences between wants and needs one of the basic foundations for financial literacy.

In the third quarter of FY2012, 4,460 individuals played Show Me the Future. Educators can use Show Me the Future to help teach life skills and money management, and helps students understand that decisions they make today can have a life-long impact.

Show Me the Future is designed to help 12-20 year olds prepare for their futures. The game helps players understand:

  • the cost of living;
  • budgeting, which is vital to financial freedom;
  • the difference between wants and needs;
  • the importance of financial planning;
  • the need to set career goals; and
  • the value of higher education.

During the game, players are randomly assigned a career (with salary, educational requirements, and accompanying student loan debt, if applicable), and family status (married or single with one, two, or three children). The players then make the following decisions:

  • Housing: rent or own with various price levels for each status
  • Transportation: public transportation or purchase a vehicle from various cost options
  • Groceries: low to high-cost packages
  • Childcare, if applicable
  • Insurance: home owners/renters, automobile, health, life
  • Clothing: low to high-cost options
  • Personal care items: low to high-cost products
  • Charitable contributions
  • Entertainment and vacations: low to high budget
  • Investments/savings

After making these decisions, the game reflects how much money is left in the monthly budget, allowing students the opportunity to witness a direct correlation between their wants and needs and their career and financial choices.

Players are required to provide their school name, latest education level, and zip code, making it easy for Mapping Your Future staff to identify usage patterns.