1. Career Aptitude Test http://www.yourfreecareertest.com

2. How much does life cost? Answer: More than you ever imagined!

3. Some things to keep in mind: The numbers listed here are averages. This activity is to give you a broad overview of how much it costs to live in America today. Unfortunately, not all options are listed here. For the sake of this activity, choose an option that is closest to what you want. Just because a job pays $50 an hour doesn’t mean you will make $96,000 a year! Many jobs (construction, flaggers, etc.) earn great hourly wages but don’t guarantee work year round.

4. Part 1: Where do you live? You need a place to live because your parents place just isn’t going to work anymore!

5. Option A Owning a medium-size house in the country. Monthly mortgage payment: $3,300 Utilities: $310 ($300 Electricity, $80 Water/Sewer/Trash, $50 Gas)

6. Option B Sharing an apartment with roommate Your share of monthly rent: $600 Utilities: $100 (You pay for half of: $120 Electricity, $70 Water/Sewer Trash, $10 renters insurance)

7. Option C Renting your own 1 bedroom apartment Average monthly rent: $1,200 Utilities: $160 ($100 Electricity, $50 Water/Sewer Trash, $10 renters insurance )

8. Option D Renting your own 1 bedroom house in the suburbs Average monthly rent: $1,600 Utilities: $185 ($125 Electricity, $50 Water/Sewer Trash, $10 renters insurance )

9. Option E Renting a 2 bedroom house in the suburbs with a roommate Your share of average monthly rent: $800 Utilities: $115 (You pay for half of: $150 Electricity, $70 Water/Sewer Trash, $10 renters insurance )

10. Part 2: Do you have a Pet? Unless you choose Option A, you are renting and must pay $20 per pet for “pet rent.” Note: You may only have medium-small dogs, cats, birds, and small rodents. Any other type of animal is not allowed in rentals, sorry!

11. Supplies For each DOG you own, add $25 for food For each CAT you own, add $50 ($25 for litter and $25 for food) For each rodent or bird, add $40 for food

12. Part 3: How do I get around?

13. Option A Bicycle or walking! However, you may only choose this option if you are living close to your workplace. (Keep in mind that this often means that your home is more expensive, since it is in higher demand and in a better location) Cost: Free!

14. Option B Bus or train Cost: $100 a month for bus, $300 for train

15. Option C Low cost car or truck Cost: $450 ($150 car payment, $200 gas, $100 insurance)

16. Option D Awesome car or truck! Cost: $930 ($500 car payment, $300 gas, $130 insurance)

17. Part 4: Phone

18. Option A Cheap* flip-phone! – Limited data, no internet/data, no apps Cost: $40 per month *Phones aren’t really cheap

19. Option B Low-grade or older smartphone with limited data and internet access Cost: $60 per month

20. Option C New Smartphone with unlimited data Cost: $100 per month

21. Part 5: Internet/TV

22. Option A Internet and cable TV Cost: $100

23. Option B: Only Internet Average US cost: $55

24. Option C: Only Cable Average US cost: $110

25. Option D No Internet or Cable TV Cost: Free!

26. Extras Netflix: $8 Hulu: $8 Amazon Prime: $7 Xbox Live: $5

27. Part 6: Health

28. Option A Health Insurance – Average cost for healthy person: $320 Do you have asthma, ADHD, depression, allergies, migraines, bipolar, diabetes, or any other condition? Add $20 per each condition for medicine and co-payments! – If you make less than $25,000 a year, you only have to pay for $100. If you make less than $20,000, it is only $75 Gym membership?: $50 Female?: $15

29. Option B No health insurance* Monthly cost: $10 ($100 a year penalty) * Caution: This is extremely stupid. For example, if you are in a car accident, an ambulance ride to the hospital is $900 while an airlift with helicopter is $50,000. Every day you spend in the hospital is $10,000 without insurance. Choose option B at your own risk.

30. Part 7: Food/Essentials

31. Option A Extremely thrifty – You do not eat at restaurants, buy organic, or drink espresso. You do not each many healthy foods Cost: $250 per month Vegetarian? Your cost is only $200!

32. Option B Regular food/consumer habits – You go to the espresso every once in a while, eat at restaurants once a month, and do not buy organic, though you try and buy healthy food Cost: $320 per month Vegetarian? Your cost is only $270!

33. Option C Luxury food/consumer habits – You drink espresso often, buy organic foods, and eat out once or twice a month Cost: $420 a month Vegetarian? Your cost is only $350!

34. Option D Do you make less than $20,000 a year? – You qualify for food stamps and your food cost is only $120 per month!

35. Part 8: Clothes

36. Option A Fashionista! – You dress stylishly and like to look nice or you have a job that requires you to look good Cost: $600 a month (female) $400 a month (male) Sorry ladies!

37. Option B Ordinary fashion choices – You need to have some nice clothes for work, but are not obsessed with fashion and your looks Cost: $350 a month (female) $200 a month (male)

38. Option C Thrifty chic – You work somewhere where clothes don’t matter and you don’t care anyways! Cost: $90 a month (female) $70 a month (male)

39. Part 9: Fun Do you like to go to shows? Add $25-$75 per each show you plan on going to per month

40. Do you want to out with friends? Add at least $20 per each outing you plan on going on per month!

41. Are you going to take someone on a date? Plan for $50-150 each date if you are paying! – Movie tickets are $10 each, dinner is usually $15-$40 each, etc.

42. Do you want a flat screen or a laptop? Add $75 monthly payments ($125 for both).

43. Part 10: Student Loans Does your job require a college education? This means that you will almost certainly have student loans. 2013's college graduates owed an average of $26,000. For the sake of this exercise, choose between a $150-$500 payment per month. ( Keep in mind that the lower your monthly payment, the more money you will pay in the end.)

44. Part 11: Savings Financial advisors recommend you save at least 10% of your paycheck per month. This protects you against emergencies and is a good investment. You may choose how much money you would like to put in savings each month.

45. That’s It! Now add up you monthly expenditures (bills) from parts 1-11 and write the total! Subtract the total from your “average monthly income after taxes.” Were you able to balance your budget??