A realistic budgeting project for 8th-grade special education students based on North Carolina minimum wage ($7.25/hr) paid biweekly. Students analyze housing, utility, and phone options in Sanford, NC, balance a set grocery budget, and evaluate teen wants like cars and gaming.
[ SURPLUS: Money Saved in Bank ] [ DEFICIT: Over Budget / Negative ]
Reflection Question: In Sanford, a 1-bedroom apartment is $800 and a car is $350 ($1,150 total). Your monthly pay at minimum wage is $1,160. Why can't a single worker afford both?
Discussion 2: The Power of Roommates Smart Strategy
Teacher Prompt: “Compare a studio apartment in Sanford ($650 rent + $200 utilities = $850) with renting a room in a shared home ($400 rent + $100 split utilities = $500). That is a savings of $350 every month ($4,200 a year!). That savings is what allows a worker to buy a moped, save for an emergency, or afford gaming passes.”
Discussion 3: The Set Grocery Budget ($250) USDA Data
Teacher Prompt: “Why did we give you a set grocery budget of $250 ($62.50 per week)? If you eat fast food three times a day, you will spend over $600 a month on food alone! Learning to grocery shop and cook at home is one of the most powerful financial survival skills in the adult world.”
Differentiation Matrix for Mixed Ability Groups
Tier 1 (Intensive Support)
Guide through Preset Option A (Shared House $400 + Shared Util $100 + Food $250 + Basic Phone $30). Provide pre-printed number lines.
Tier 2 (Core SPED)
Student independently chooses from posters, checks arithmetic with calculator, and identifies whether their choices create a surplus or deficit.
Tier 3 (Extension / Challenge)
Calculate how many hours of overtime or what hourly wage (e.g., $12/hr or $15/hr) would be needed to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom apt AND a car.
Carolina Living Curriculum • Sanford, NC Consumer Math Instructional Guide
4. Real-World Written Reflection Explains why $1,150 for rent+car fails and articulates smart trade-offs. Provides partial explanation; needs verbal elaboration. ____ / 5
Sample IEP Progress Note: “Given a multi-step real-world consumer budget based on biweekly pay ($580) and NC minimum wage, student independently/with calculator calculated gross monthly income ($1,160) and subtracted sequential living expenses with [ ___ % ] accuracy, identifying whether their budget resulted in a surplus or deficit.”
Carolina Living Budget Project Rubric Lee County • Sanford, NC Consumer Math
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Poster E: Transportation & Middle School Wants
Used Car Package
$350 / mo
• Monthly Car Note: $180
• NC Auto Insurance: $100
• Gas for Sanford driving: $70
TOTAL = $350 / month
Used Moped / Scooter
$80 / mo
• No car loan payment
• Gas for moped: $30/mo
• Basic maintenance: $50/mo
TOTAL = $80 / month
Bicycle & Walking
$0 / mo
• Free transportation!
• Bike to work or walk
• Ride with coworkers/family
TOTAL = $0 (100% Free)
Gaming & Pass
Xbox / PS Plus Online
$30/mo
Sneakers & Clothes
New kicks & shopping
$70/mo
Fast Food / Snacks
Burgers, soda & snacks
$50/mo
Budget Warning: You only have $1,160 total for the entire month on NC minimum wage! If your rent and car take all your money, you will not have enough to eat.
Potato Chips (Family) $4.00
Choc Chip Cookies $4.00
Ice Cream Tub $4.00
Bakery Muffins (4pk) $4.00
Granola Snack Bars $3.00
Apple Juice (64 oz) $3.00
Turn to Page 2 to plan your Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner cart! Page 1 of 2 →
Your 1-Week Grocery Receipt
Build a balanced cart covering Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for 7 days.
Budget Limit: $62.50
• Breakfast Options:
Eggs, cereal, milk, waffles, oatmeal, bagels.
• Lunch Options:
Turkey, bread, PB&J, tuna, soup, cheese.
• Dinner Options:
Chicken, beef, rice, pasta, chili, veggies.
1
List Up to 10 Items for Your Weekly Food Cart
Must Cover Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
1. ______________________
$
2. ______________________
$
3. ______________________
$
4. ______________________
$
5. ______________________
$
6. ______________________
$
7. ______________________
$
8. ______________________
$
9. ______________________
$
10. _____________________
$
2
Step 2: Add Up Your Cart & Check Your Budget
Calculator Friendly
Total Cost of All Items in Cart:
Cart Total:
$
Math: $62.50 (Budget) − [ Your Cart Total ] =
Remaining Change:
$
Cart Status:
[ UNDER BUDGET: Safe! ] [ OVER $62.50: Put Something Back! ]
A 12-pack of soda ($7) and a frozen pizza ($6) cost $13.00 together. What are 3 healthy staple foods from Page 1 you could buy for that same $13.00 to feed yourself all week?
Sanford Grocery Math Worksheet • Carolina Living Budget Score: ______ / 20 Points