1. Are you ready for your Road Test???
Student Registration
Are you ready for
your
Road Test???

2. What is Budget Challenge?
Simulation challenge for students to compete to manage a ‘Typical Household Budget’ in real-time.
Uses real personal finance tools
Provides real consequences
Operates via and Internet
Provides safe environment
Intro 2 min. video can be found on Teacher Home>Resources page.

3. The Road Test for Personal Finance
Personal finance should be taken as seriously as learning to drive.
No matter which state you live in, to get a driver’s license, you need to pass a written and a road test.
There is a HUGE difference between knowing what a break pedal is and really knowing how to use it, at the right time, and in the correct way.
In Budget Challenge, you will learn by doing.
Through trial and error you will hone your skills and demonstrate working knowledge of many fundamentals in real world situations.

4. Student Registration Instructions
Go to
Click Register

5. Student Registration Instructions
Enter Class Code and Click Validate Code

6. <Insert your code here>
Registration code
<Insert your code here>

7. Creating a Student Account
Username:
7-13 letters or numbers
no spaces
no special characters
Password:
7-13 characters
At least one letter
At least one number
No spaces
Case-sensitive
School address auto-populates
Submit

8. Confirming the Student Account
Students should open the Registration confirmation in their Inbox.
Check Spam folder if not found in Inbox.
Click on Activate and Login link
Once re-directed to website, select Click here to go to the next step hyperlink
The username and password for your account will only work
AFTER you click on the 2 links.

9. Student Home Resources during Registration
Vendor Selection tabs
Simulation Information Packet
How to Play
Help Desk

10. Simulation Overview
Scenario is the same for all students participating in same simulation
However, bill amounts and net pay amounts will vary based on:
Choices on each Vendor Tab
401K contribution and Employer Match
Bill pay performance
Negotiation with Customer Service
Selections MUST be completed by 9 PM on the start date to be eligible for the H&R Block Budget Challenge contest prizes.

11. Complete Vendor Selections
Review the information online
How to play
Information packet
Vendor selections
Complete the Vendor Selections by 9 PM EST on the start date. When you have made choices on all the tabs they will all be green and that is the visual cue that your account is ready for the start of the game.

12. Recommendations Make a budget first!
Adjust it as new information arrives
Understand the product choices and trade-offs
Pay all of your bills on-time
Save as much as you can afford
Track income and expenses on the Budget and Cashflow spreadsheet

13. Quiz / Survey Savings Fees Score
Leaderboard Score
Evaluates 3 key dimensions:
Ability to save
Ability to avoid fees
Personal finance knowledge
Scores and class rankings are updated daily
Quiz /
Survey
Savings
Fees
Score
Starting 401K of $500 = Starting score
Earn 1 pt per $1 saved into 401K.
Contribution is Federal tax exempt.
Employer match counts toward score.
Lose 1 pt per $1 in fees.
Fees count for all vendors including bank.
Lose extra 150 points for each bill not paid on time.
Earn points by taking quizzes and feedback surveys available on Student Home.
Points are added to score in the evening, visible next day.

14. What happens when the simulation starts?
On evening of start date:
Vendor Tab choices get locked in
Welcome and bill notifications begin
Leaderboard populates
Starting Balances awarded in checking account and 401K
The only categories that are adjustable are:
bank account type
401K contribution %. (401K plan is not adjustable)
Paychecks direct deposited biweekly
(See Vendor Selections > Job for# days until 1st paycheck)
Important:
Paycheck funds are available for use the day AFTER the deposit. See the bank page or employer page for details.

15. Contact Us For Customer Service support submit inquiries at:
Student Home > Help Desk
Teacher Home > Teacher Help Desk
Upon starting simulation:
Customer service for each vendor may be contacted by clicking the link at the bottom of every Vendor Page or from Student Home>Help Desk.
Allow 1-2 business days for response

16. BUDGET CHALLENGE personal finance simulation
Budget Challenge and ProperLiving are
registered trademarks of ProperLiving, LLC
U.S. Patent No. 8,444,418 and Patent Pending
Copyright 2014 ProperLiving, LLC
All Rights Reserved