Budget Challenge - Financial Literacy and Capability + Investing

Budget Challenge® is a ten-week real-time, real-world financial simulation where students manage finances similar to what they will have as an independent young adult. It has been successfully used by over 850,000 students in all 50 states. The foundation of Budget Challenge® is a patented technology that allows for the creation of a simulation where financial transactions like sending bills, processing payments, sending paychecks, and maintaining 401(k) balances are done in real-time for tens of thousands of independent users simultaneously. In Budget Challenge®, students choose insurance coverages, banking terms, 401k contribution levels and select services like cell phone and internet. They receive bills, get paid by direct deposit, and make electronic payments. The 10-week experience is designed to allow for several monthly billing cycles, which intentionally introduces repetition to assist with building habits. Students use the provided budget and cash-flow spreadsheet to manage the timing of their transactions. Like in real life, students must take into consideration the interconnected nature of financial decisions. Maximizing a 401k contribution may jeopardize the ability to pay rent by the due date. Unexpected events such as an auto accident or property theft help students understand the role of insurance and an emergency fund. Maintaining a budget and paying bills on time is crucial to avoid late fees, non sufficient funds charges, and credit card interest. Competitive scoring rewards good financial decision-making and makes the experience engaging. When a student achieves a key financial goal, such as setting up an emergency fund or paying down debt, points are awarded, and a trophy is earned. In other programs, students read about consequences. Only Budget Challenge® allows students to learn from their own actual experiences, and from the experiences of their classmates. This makes the experience meaningful and enjoyable for both students and teachers.