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Jump$tart Coalition Jump$tart Coalition
  • About
    • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Partners
      • Our Partners
      • Become a Partner
      • Annual Dues
      • Partner Announcements
      • Jump$tart Clearinghouse Logo
    • State Coalitions
    • Staff
  • Public Awareness
    • Check Your School
      • Educator Resources
      • Parent and Community Resources
      • Teen Teach-In
        • Learn More about the J$t TTI
        • Past TTI Events
        • Sign Up
    • Financial Literacy Month
    • Annual Awards
      • Federal Leadership Award
      • Financial Literacy Innovation Award
      • State Coalition of the Year Award
      • William E. Odom Visionary Leadership Award
    • Hill Day
    • For Me, It’s Personal
  • Financial Ed
    • Jump$tart Clearinghouse
    • National Standards
    • NEC
    • J$FFE
    • Reality Check
  • News & Info
    • FAQs
    • Financial Fridays
    • Teacher Spotlight
    • Press Releases
    • Subscribe
  • Donate
Menu

Reality Check

  • Financial Education
  • Reality Check
  • Form
1Housing & Food
2Transportation, Clothing, and Digital
3Other Expenses
4Results

What type of lifestyle do you want to live in your future? What type of career will you need to live that life? “Reality Check” is a way to see into your future. Fill out the following survey to estimate what type of future income you will need to enjoy the lifestyle you would like to have.

Reality Check uses national averages to create a realistic estimate of what your future income will need to be to enjoy the life you would like to lead. While local salaries, wages, and costs will differ based on which part of the country you live in, “Reality Check” should be used as a learning resource and not a budgeting or planning tool.

Shelter(Required)
(Check the ONE that’s the most likely match)
How many roommates do you expect to have?(Required)
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Utilities(Required)
Check the ONE that’s the most likely match.
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Food(Required)
Check the ONE that’s the most likely match.
Transportation(Required)
Check the ONE that’s the most likely match.
Communications
Check ALL that will apply to you.
Cable/Satellite
Check ALL that apply to you.
Personal
Check ALL that will apply to you.
Student Loans
Miscellaneous
Check ALL that will apply to you.

Other Expenses

How much do you think you will spend or set aside each month for the following?

Savings, Investments & Gifts

Money set aside into a separate account.
Extra money set aside beyond normal savings
Stocks, Cryptocurrency, Retirement
Religious Organizations & Other Charities
Holidays, Birthdays, Special Occasions

Entertainment, Hobbies & Travel

Music, movie, and game downloads or purchases, etc.
Books, Newspapers, and Magazine Subscriptions
Special restaurants, clubs, etc.
Vacation, gas or plane fare, food, fun
Gaming, Membership Fees, etc.

Other

Perms, Braiding, Color Treatment, etc.
Beyond the Basics
Note Previously Noted
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Think You're Ready?

Assuming you pay 22% in federal taxes and social security, you would need to make at least this much to support your lifestyle:

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Is it what you expected?

Or did you just get a Reality Check?

Reality Check serves as an educational tool to help you learn about real world living expenses and associated salaries within the work world. We hope that the results will spur you to learn more, and discuss with others like your parents, friends, teachers, and perhaps individuals currently in the job or career you have interest in.

Reality Check results will paint a pretty realistic financial picture; but keep in mind that the dollar amounts used for both income and expenses are based on national averages and may not correspond precisely to costs and wages in your region. Reality check is intended as an education tool and discussion started and should not be used as an individual financial planning tool. Sources include data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are updated regularly.

Click the PREVIOUS link below to go back and adjust your entries or click the blue button to see jobs that support your lifestyle needs.

Contact Us

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  • PO Box 51, Hollywood, MD 20636
  • Phone:(202) 846-6780
  • info@jumpstart.org
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