Lutcher – Recently, students at Lutcher High School experienced the real world through LYFE: Living Your Financial Experience. LYFE is an active, hands-on, real life simulation, which gives students the opportunity to explore career opportunities and make lifestyle and budget choices similar to those adults face on a daily basis.

 At the most recent simulation, freshmen at Lutcher High assumed a career along with a salary and made life choices such as renting or purchasing a home or apartment, means of transportation, clothing, groceries and entertainment.

“I really enjoyed LYFE,“ said student Amira Baloney. “It made me more aware of what my parents have to go through every month. Now, I’ll be more conscious of how I spend my parents’ money.”

 During the simulation, community volunteers manned stations and shared their insight with students.

“I wish they had something like this when I was a kid, so that I could have learned how to manage money a little better,” said Brad Martin of Marathon Petroleum Co. “Money used to burn a hole in my pocket as a teenager.  This program provides the students with a real life shock of what it will be like when they go out on their own and need to manage a budget to survive.”

 The overall goal of LYFE is to increase financial literacy by providing research-based educational resources that help students and communities raise awareness of money management and banking basics. This program was created by LSU AgCenter, Louisiana 4-H and Louisiana Federal Credit Union. For more information on the LYFE curriculum, contact LSU AgCenter at www.LSUAgCenter.com.