The finance topic had already covered how bank accounts work, working out if deals really are best value, luxury vs. essential shopping, how salaries vary for different jobs and calculating tax and insurance dedications on a pay slip. For their final session, the students each had their own jobs with an annual salary, from which they had to calculate the monthly take home pay.
They then had to decide how to spend their money, looking at properties, car related costs, weekly supermarket baskets, bills and also the more luxurious items such as subscriptions and coffee shop trips! As everyone had a different salary, there was a range in what was affordable and the children all found the real life aspect to this an eye opener. There were some fierce debates about whether a car was necessary or whether to save by finding a housemate.
