This game reviews Lesson 2.7, Needs vs Wants Showdown, Lesson 2.8, Paycheck Detective, and Lesson 2.9, Budget Like a Boss. Round 1 is a random pay stub at $17.00 an hour [update each September] with the four deductions from the lesson (federal income tax, New York State income tax, Social Security at 6.2 percent, Medicare at 1.45 percent): three quick reads of gross, deductions, and net. Round 2 is the month: two of those paychecks, savings taken first at 20 percent, then ten expense cards sorted with the lesson's test ("Do I need this to be safe, healthy, and able to do school or work?"). Needs get paid. Wants are a choice, and buying one you cannot afford ends the month in the red. Prices are the Long Island 2026 prices from the handouts. Nothing is saved when the page closes.
Paycheck Puzzle
Read the stub. Find the number you budget with. Then get through the month in the black.
How to play
Round 1: three questions about the stub, 20 seconds each, 10 points a right answer, 5 extra if you get all three. Round 2: sort ten expense cards into Need or Want, 10 points each. Needs are paid for you. For a want, you choose: buy it or skip it. End the month with money left and every 5 dollars left banks as a point. Go into the red and the month is over.