Bite of Reality is a ‘Real World Simulation’ that guides students through a day in the life of an adult. The students make personal financial decisions in every area of life. Each student is given a persona for the day. The persona includes an occupation, income, family description, possible debt and student loan. The student moves from booth to booth making decisions about housing, transportation, groceries and dining, child care, etc.
The only materials a student will need are a smartphone or tablet with the Bite of Reality2 App downloaded.
Bite of Reality is a 1.5 hour simulation for middle or high school students. Each participant receives “about me” information when starting the app that contains an identity with an occupation and salary, student loan debt owed, credit card debt owed, and cost of medical insurance. Some participants will have a spouse; some will be single; and all will be parents.
Participants build a monthly budget based on their incomes. They visit nine merchants in Bite of Reality to purchase housing, transportation, food, day care, and other needs. There’s shopping for wants and, of course, a credit union for financial counseling.
The Fickle Finger of Fate randomly visits each participant on the app during the simulation and distributes unexpected life events in the true form of unplanned expenses and random gifts. When a participant visits a merchant or has a Fickle Finger of Fate event, the dollar amount is automatically adjusted on the built in register.
If your school, church or community group is interested in hosting a Bite Of Reality Fair, please read the requirements below and complete the contact form.
For the complete TEACHER GUIDE click here.
Want to know more? Check out this Bite Of Reality Fair Promo Video that you can share to assist with obtaining volunteers.
Please email Jon Hamby-Lattimore at jonh@memcu.com with the following information and dates from list below to reserve your spot. (All information must be completed before the date will be confirmed.)
- School Name
- Contact person name
- Contact person email address
- Contact person phone number
- How many students will be attending the reality fair?
- Date requested (see list below).
- Reality fair day times and schedule
2024-2025 Available Dates (If the dates are on this list, they are still available)
- February 18
- February 20
- February 25
- February 27
- March 4
- March 6
- March 11
- March 13
- March 20 - Davie High School
- March 25
- March 27
- April 1 - Meadowlark Middle School
- April 3
- April 8
- April 10
- April 29
- May 1 - Piney Grove Middle - Stokes County
- May 6
- May 8
- May 13
- May 15
- May 20
- May 22