The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office will be bringing the Get a Life personal finance simulation to all the 8th grade students at Washington Irving Middle School Tuesday, April 1, 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 and the things they want.
This activity is one of the best opportunities our students have to gain insight and perspective on what their parents do to provide a home with the things they are used to having.
