SHINNSTON, WV – The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office will be bringing the Get a Life personal finance simulation to all the 8th grade students at Lincoln Middle School Wednesday, March 5, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Students will be assigned a job with an income and a life situation such as married with two children, or single and taking care of an aging mother, etc.
The first round, students will have a minimum wage income and purchase the things they need to live, like housing, transportation, utilities, groceries, gas, insurance, etc.
In the second round, students do the same thing, but with a higher income after they would have received higher education, which could be any of a community college certificate, 2-or 4- year college degree, or an industry or technical certification. This round motivates students to realize the differences in the standard of living between a minimum wage job and one with a required skill set, industry certification, or degree requirement.
The Harrison County Chamber of Commerce and the WVU Extension Service are providing local business volunteers to act as vendors to sell students the things they need to live as well as the things they want.
This activity is one of the best opportunities our students have to gain insight and perspective on what their parents are required to do to provide a home for them with the things they need and want. Each child will get a Fickle Finger of Fate card which has them paying for something unexpected like a broken leg or car transmission. It can also be a good thing like an inheritance or tax refund.