Reality Street: The Budgeting Activity

Reality Street:The Budgeting Activity was designed and piloted in 2008 as a new addition to our work with young people. The interactive activity session aims to introduce to young people the costs of living independently and to highlight the importance of managing your money.

Reality Street is based on the incomes and lifestyles of four characters; ranging from a city high-flyer, to a single mother on benefits, to a university student. The participants are encouraged to think about the characters' lifestyles and the associated costs, and to compare this to their income. This provides opportunities to talk about saving, budgeting and debt.

Reality Street activity sessions are accessible to students of all abilities; pictures and storyboards, as well as calculators mean that even those with limited literacy or numeracy skills can participate.

Click here to read some of the feedback received from young people who have participated in the Budgeting Activity