The Capital Region Women’s Network (CRWN) partnered with the Troy Boys and Girls Club in Troy, NY to offer The Reality Store Program on June 8, 2012. About 10 teenage girls got a taste of what it is like to manage finances in the adult world during this simulation event. The young women had an opportunity to allocate a month’s salary among typical expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and clothing. After selecting a career, the girls were given an appropriate after-tax monthly income, and had to draw chances to discover their marital and parental status. Then they proceeded to one of about a dozen stations to make spending decisions, with the goal of not spending more than they earned in a month.

At each station a CRWN volunteer explained the various options available and offered advice about how to budget wisely. For example, a girl could decide to buy a car, and would look at newspaper ads to compare prices of new and used models. She would then need to go to the insurance station to buy insurance. At least once during the course of the 2 hour program each participant was required to visit the LIFE’S CHANCES station and draw a slip describing an unexpected event. Possibilities for the event included having a baby; getting a speeding ticket; or being promoted and receiving a raise. These events usually required an immediate stop at another station to react to the change. It was easy to tell the nature of the event by the girls’ reactions – groans, screams of delight, or quiet surprise.

Ice cream treats were in order upon completion of the program, as each teenager completed the game without going broke!  CRWN was pleased to hear the enthusiastic response the participants had to the evening. Comments such as “I loved doing this,” “I learned how expensive babies are,” and “Encourage other girls to do this” were typical. CRWN volunteers also praised the program and the serious approach the girls brought to it.

Planning for The Reality Store Program started six months prior to the event. CRWN worked with the Executive Director and the Teen Program Director to recruit participants and to organize for the event. The event took place on a Friday evening at the Troy Boys and Girls Club facility, a familiar location for the young women.  CRWN was well prepared for the program – most members participated in some way; researching careers and salaries, covering a station (we set up 12 stations), preparing packets for participants, food and beverages.

Member participation and feedback was terrific, reported 2011 -2012 President Eileen Howe Bird. “Our volunteers were well prepared and held quality conversations with the teenagers at each station”. It was a unique and worthwhile experience that helped the Troy Boys and Girls Club achieve one of it’s goals of offering career programming for teenagers. This was CRWN’s first Reality Store experience. They plan to make the program a regular part of its effort to prepare young women for college, career, and adult life.

The Reality Store program is trademarked by the Indiana Business and Professional Women and Indiana Women’s Education Foundation, Inc. The program has been made available courtesy of New York State Women, Inc.  For more information on this program please contact Eileen Howe Bird at (518) 441-6502 or [email protected] .