Let's+Start+Living!

Welcome to the Game of Life!

Get Started by understanding your budget!
 * **First**, download this Excel Budget Spreadsheet form, do a "Save As" to Save it & Rename it " FINAL Budget" in your student number (DPS server) account
 * **Second**, as a class, we will go over ALL of the budget items on the spreadsheet to understand how the budget works.


 * **Third**, to practice, open another copy of the budget spreadsheet and "Save As"--Rename it--"Practice Budget-- ". Practice inputting the following budget amounts in this spreadsheet. When finished, type an explanation at the bottom as to how you would be able to make this budget balance to a Zero or Positive balance (i.e., what expense could you adjust or remove?). Print this practice budget, write your name at the top and hand it in for a grade!

DPS GOOGLE LOGIN (click this link to sign into your Google Account)

Complete ALL budget worksheets in your Google Drive. Make sure you rename each worksheet with your name and share it with your teacher though Google Classroom!!

PRACTICE--Sample Budget: Possible project partner salary=$3,400 Pets: 1 dog + 1 cat ||  ||  || Education-University (see Family page for additional project partner cost) || $162 || Speeding ticket || $75 || (see Family page for possible additional car for project partner) || $500 ||  || Life Card #2-unexpected expense Vet cost for sick dog ($2,000/12 months) || $167 || (cost varies depending on if project partner works) || ????? || if you can and explain what you chose & why) || ????? || Now **,** make your actual life budget! Go through all of the following life decisions **in the order presented below**. Click on the "Money Bag" icon to go to the page with instructions and websites to calculate and add each budget item to your spreadsheet. Don't forget to complete any required worksheets plus Google slides. When your FINAL budget is complete with ALL budget items (below) included, please submit it to the Google Classroom for this class.
 * Budget Item || Amount ||  || Budget Item || Amount ||
 * Family=one project partner + 3 children
 * Gross Income || $5,600 || [[image:game-of-life/dollar sign.jpg width="33" height="41"]] || Budget Decisions:
 * Should your project partner work full time, part time or stay home?
 * How will this decision affect your budget--see family page ||  ||
 * Mortgage || $1,800 || [[image:game-of-life/dollar sign.jpg width="33" height="42"]] || Life Card #1-unexpected expense
 * Monthly Car Expenses
 * Utilities || $220 || [[image:game-of-life/dollar sign.jpg width="27" height="37"]] || Savings/College fund for kids????
 * Phone/Internet/Cable || $140 || [[image:game-of-life/dollar sign.jpg width="34" height="44"]] || Other??? (choose 1 or 2 "other" expenses

|| After taking the career survey, are you pursuing a technical career or a professional career?
 * || //** Decisions, Decisions!! **// || // **Description (go to Game Overview page for a detailed list of Google Slides in order)** // ||  ||
 * [[image:game-of-life/number 1.jpg width="61" height="61"]] || What is my career?

Action Items: || After a failed marriage, you have children to raise. How many children do you have? Will both you and your Project Partner go to work or will one of you stay home with ALL the children?
 * Career Interest Worksheet & Education Worksheet
 * Add monthly gross salary amount to budget line on spreadsheet
 * Google Slide #3 || [[image:game-of-life/bigstock_Money_bag_and_stacks_of_cash_14085680.jpg width="89" height="61" link="lifeisachoice/career"]] ||
 * [[image:number 2.jpg width="62" height="61"]] || What family chose you?

Action Items: || Buying a vehicle is an exciting decision, but it is also costly.
 * Determine which budget items on spreadsheet are affected by family size.
 * Family Decisions Worksheet
 * Update budget items affected by family decisions on your budget spreadsheet
 * Google Slide #4 || [[image:game-of-life/bigstock_Money_bag_and_stacks_of_cash_14085680.jpg width="94" height="63" link="lifeisachoice/Family Matters"]] ||
 * [[image:game-of-life/number 3.jpg width="58" height="58"]] || What car do you want to buy?

Action Items: || Everybody has to live somewhere! Let's shop for a house. Choose a family-friendly vehicle for you and possibly your Project Partner, if needed.
 * Transportation Worksheet
 * Add transportation amount to budget line on spreadsheet
 * Google Slide #6 || [[image:game-of-life/bigstock_Money_bag_and_stacks_of_cash_14085680.jpg width="115" height="80" align="center" link="lifeisachoice/Get a Car"]] ||
 * [[image:number 4.jpg width="57" height="57"]] || What house will you buy?

Action Items: || Choose your family vacation, but make sure you can afford it!
 * Housing Worksheet
 * Add amount to budget line on spreadsheet
 * Google Slide #5 || [[image:game-of-life/bigstock_Money_bag_and_stacks_of_cash_14085680.jpg width="114" height="78" link="lifeisachoice/Buy a House"]] ||
 * [[image:number 5.jpg width="63" height="61"]] || Monthly vacation savings

Action Items: || Choose a charitable organization to donate to (optional).
 * Vacation Worksheet
 * Add amount to budget line on spreadsheet
 * Google Slide #7 || [[image:game-of-life/bigstock_Money_bag_and_stacks_of_cash_14085680.jpg width="104" height="75" link="lifeisachoice/Vacation Destinations"]] ||
 * [[image:number 6.jpg width="61" height="61" align="left"]] || Gifts to Charity

Action Items:
 * Add amount to budget line on spreadsheet
 * Google Slide (add at end of your presentation)--include on your slide:
 * 1) Charity name, logo image & website link
 * 2) Description of charity (2-3 sentences) and why you chose this charity || [[image:game-of-life/bigstock_Money_bag_and_stacks_of_cash_14085680.jpg width="104" height="74" link="lifeisachoice/Charitable Organizations"]] ||