Payday Playbook Slides LEVEL UP
Life Simulation
Stage 1: The Payday Playbook
Income & Deductions
The Mystery of the Missing Money
Imagine you worked 40 hours this week for $15 per hour.
Expected Pay:
$600.00
But your actual check only says $480.00.
Where did it go?
Taxes (Federal & State)
Social Security & Medicare
Health Insurance
Know the Terms
Gross Pay
The total amount of money you earn BEFORE any deductions are taken out.
"The Big Number"
Net Pay
The amount of money you actually take home AFTER all deductions.
"The Spending Number"
Choose Your Player
Your budget starts with your job. Different careers have different starting salaries.
Trade/Tech
Service/Care
Creative/Media
Quest Objective
Pick a Career Starter Card and find your Monthly Gross Income.
Calculating Net Pay
Monthly Gross Pay
$3,000.00
Total Deductions
(Taxes, Insurance, Savings)
$600.00
Your Net Pay
$2,400.00
Career Starter Cards Career Select
Level Up Life Simulation
v1.0.0_STARTER_DECK
Animal Care Assistant
Monthly Gross Pay
$2,400.00
Taxes (20%) -$480.00
Health Insurance -$120.00
"Expert at keeping furry friends happy and healthy."
Junior Web Developer
Monthly Gross Pay
$4,200.00
Taxes (25%) -$1,050.00
Health Insurance -$180.00
"Building the digital world, one line of code at a time."
Graphic Designer
Monthly Gross Pay
$3,500.00
Taxes (22%) -$770.00
Health Insurance -$150.00
"Master of colors, fonts, and creative layouts."
Culinary Assistant
Monthly Gross Pay
$2,800.00
Taxes (20%) -$560.00
Health Insurance -$120.00
"Creating delicious meals in high-energy kitchens."
Warehouse Specialist
Monthly Gross Pay
$3,100.00
Taxes (20%) -$620.00
Health Insurance -$140.00
"Keeping things moving and organized behind the scenes."
Landscape Specialist
Monthly Gross Pay
$2,900.00
Taxes (20%) -$580.00
Health Insurance -$130.00
"Transforming outdoor spaces into natural works of art."
Home Base Slides HOME BASE
Quest for Housing
Stage 2: Finding Your Zone
Housing & Utilities
The Golden Rule of Rent
Most experts say you should never spend more than 30% of your gross income on housing.
Example Calculation:
$3,000 × 0.30 = $900
Why 30%?
If you spend too much on rent, you won't have enough "HP" (Money) left for:
Electricity & Water
Food & Groceries
Emergency Repairs
Party Size: Solo or Co-op?
Single Player
Full privacy
Your rules
VERY Expensive
You pay 100% of bills
Multiplayer Mode
Split the rent
Shared utility costs
Less privacy
Must agree on rules
Utility Costs
The Hidden Costs:
Electricity
~$100
Water
~$50
Internet
~$70
Trash/Sew
~$30
Pro-Tip: Check if utilities are "Included" in your rent or "Separate"!
Apartment Search Worksheet Home Base Hunt
Task: Housing Research & Budgeting
Player Name
Phase 1: Your Maximum Bid
Refer to your Career Card . Use your Monthly Gross Income to find your housing limit (30%).
Math Work Area
$_______ × 0.30 = $_______
Target Rent Limit
$_______
Phase 2: Local Map Search
Research real listings online. Find one option that fits your budget.
Apartment Name/Complex
Monthly Rent
Utilities Included? (List them)
Bedrooms / Bathrooms
Roommates?
Yes
No
Phase 3: Accessibility Review
Does this housing option meet your specific needs? (Think about distance to transit, first-floor access, laundry inside, etc.)
Commute Quest Slides COMMUTE QUEST
Transportation & Logistics
Stage 3: Getting to Work
Mobility & Accessibility
Choose Your Vehicle
Personal Car
Maximum freedom, but expensive maintenance and gas.
Est. Cost
$400 - $800 /mo
Public Transit
Cheapest option, but depends on schedules and routes.
Est. Cost
$50 - $100 /mo
Ride Share
Convenient, but daily use adds up extremely fast.
Est. Cost
$200 - $600 /mo
The 8:00 AM Challenge
To win this quest, you must arrive at your job on time.
1
Find your home address on a map.
2
Find your work address (assigned by Career Card).
3
Check the bus schedule or drive time for a weekday morning.
Don't forget: Bad weather or traffic can cost you 15-20 minutes of travel time!
Ride Comparison Sheet Mobility Map
Commute Logistics & Cost Tracker
1. Route Details
Work Location Address
Distance from Home
Travel Time (One Way)
2. Access Needs
Check all that apply to your transit plan:
Wheelchair Accessible
Paratransit Services
Safe Walking Paths
Near Bus/Train Stop
3. Transportation Cost Calculator
Option A: Bus/Train
Monthly Pass $_______
$_______
Option B: Personal Car
Payment $_______
Insurance $_______
Gas/Repair $_______
$_______
Option C: Ride-Share
Daily Trip × 20 $_______
$_______
Final Transportation Choice
Which option are you adding to your budget?
$ _________________
Daily Grind Slides THE DAILY GRIND
Food & Daily Living
Stage 4: Surviving the Week
Groceries & Personal Care
The Price is Right
Milk (Gallon)
$3.80
Toilet Paper (12pk)
$12.50
Laundry Soap
$15.00
Small items add up to a big budget hit!
The Meal Plan Strategy
Fast Food & Takeout
Convenient and requires zero prep time.
Cost Impact:
$15.00 per meal
Grocery Shopping
Cheaper per meal, but requires skills and time.
Cost Impact:
$4.50 per meal
The "Other" Stuff
Personal Care
Shampoo & Soap
Toothpaste
Cleaning Supplies
Medications
Social Life
Movies / Gaming
Hanging with Friends
Streaming Services
New Clothes
Pantry Planner Worksheet Pantry Planner
Task: Weekly Grocery & Essentials Estimate
Grocery Status: Ready
1. The Essentials List
Milk / Juice $ _______
Bread / Cereal $ _______
Eggs / Protein $ _______
Fruits / Veggies $ _______
Snacks / Treats $ _______
Cleaning Supplies $ _______
2. Meal Strategy
Breakfast Goal
Lunch Goal
Dinner Goal
Budget Hack: Buying items in bulk (like large bags of rice or multi-packs of soap) can save you up to 20% on your monthly total!
Weekly Grocery Cost
$ _______
Total Monthly Food Budget
$ _______
(Weekly Cost × 4 weeks)
Master Budget Sheet Master Budget Sheet
Final Quest: Balancing the Books
Status
Level 1 Complete
The Monthly Statement
Category Planned Cost Life Event Impact 1. Net Monthly Income $ ____________ --- 2. Rent / Housing -$ ____________ -$ ____________ 3. Utilities (Electric, Water, etc.) -$ ____________ -$ ____________ 4. Transportation -$ ____________ -$ ____________ 5. Groceries / Personal Care -$ ____________ -$ ____________ 6. Savings Goal (Min. 10%) -$ ____________ -$ ____________ Remaining Balance $ _________________
Debrief: Did You Survive?
If your "Remaining Balance" is negative, what is the FIRST thing you would change to fix it?
Based on this simulation, what is the most surprising thing you learned about the cost of living alone?
Life Event Cards Life Events
Random Encounter Deck
CHANCE CARDS
Flat Tire!
You hit a pothole on the way to work. You need a new tire immediately!
Financial Impact
-$150.00
Transportation Category
Tax Refund
Surprise! You did your taxes and the government owes you money back.
Financial Impact
+$300.00
Income Category
Rent Hike
The landlord is increasing the monthly rent for your complex. Ouch.
Financial Impact
-$75.00 /mo
Housing Category
Copay Due
You had an unexpected doctor's visit and need to pay your insurance copay.
Financial Impact
-$50.00
Daily Living Category
Simulation Master Guide Simulation Master Guide
Teacher Resource: Level Up Life Simulation
Instructor Access Only
Simulation Overview
The Level Up Life Simulation is a 5-part game-based experience designed for 9th-grade students with disabilities. It targets transition goals related to independent living, financial management, and problem-solving. Students progress through "Stages" where they make real-world decisions and track their "HP" (Monthly Balance).
Core Concepts
Gross vs. Net Pay
The 30% Housing Rule
Needs vs. Wants
Budget Resilience
Facilitation Notes
Lesson 1: Payday
Focus on the shock of deductions. Help students realize that a "big" salary shrinks quickly after taxes. Use the Career Starter Cards to assign roles.
Key Prompt: "Where did your $120 go?"
Lesson 2: Housing
Guide students to local listings. If they pick a place way over budget, let them realize it during the math Phase. Encourage roommates to save 50% on rent.
Key Prompt: "Privacy vs. Profit: Which do you value more?"
Lesson 3: Commute
Critical for mobility needs. Use maps to check transit times for 8:00 AM arrival. Remind them car insurance and gas are mandatory costs.
Key Prompt: "If the bus is 10 mins late, are you fired?"
Lesson 4: Daily Grind
Run the "Price is Right" game first. Many underestimate cost of paper towels, soap, and personal care. Emphasize that takeout is a budget killer.
Key Prompt: "Can you live on ramen for a month?"
Differentiation Strategies
For High Support Needs
Pre-calculate 30% rent caps on their career cards.
Provide a list of "Pre-Approved" apartments with all utilities included.
Use visual checklists for grocery items.
For Extension
Require students to calculate a 15% savings rate instead of 10%.
Assign "Life Events" earlier in the simulation to force pivots.
Research credit scores and how they impact rent deposits.
