By Brittany Reilly

Old Colony REALTORS®

Across West Virginia, the Get a Life program continues to make a meaningful impact on middle school students by giving them a realistic look at the financial responsibilities that come with adulthood. Offered through the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, this hands-on simulation transforms a school gymnasium into a miniature “life marketplace,” where students rotate through stations representing housing, transportation, food, utilities, childcare, and more.

This isn’t my first year participating, and each time I’ve been involved, the experience reinforces just how valuable this program is. Students begin with a job, a monthly salary, and a fictional family, then quickly learn how fast a paycheck can disappear.

The most powerful part of the program is watching students connect the dots in real time. They begin weighing needs versus wants, comparing costs, evaluating trade-offs, and discussing the realities their parents face every month. Many express surprise at the price of basic necessities or how much of their budget goes toward housing and transportation. These conversations spark a deeper understanding of the financial choices that shape a household.

If your local middle school doesn’t currently participate in the Get a Life program, consider helping bring it to your area. REALTORS® already guide families through major financial decisions — supporting financial education at the student level is a meaningful way to strengthen the communities we serve.

Agents can contact the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, at (304) 558-5000, to learn how to bring the program to their district.