Unit 3: Independent Living & Rent

- The 30% Rule: The standard financial guideline that housing costs should not exceed 30% of gross monthly income.
- Rental Vocabulary: The difference between a Lease (contract), Security Deposit (insurance for the landlord), and Utilities (extra monthly costs).
- The Upfront Reality: That moving into an apartment requires more than just the first month's rent (1st, Last, and Security).

- Calculate Rent Ceilings: Use multiplication (Gross x 0.30) to determine the maximum rent they can afford based on various job salaries.
- Navigate Listings: Search through simulated or real Meriden rental ads to find apartments that fit a specific budget.
- Analyze a Lease: Highlight key clauses in a sample lease, such as "No Pets," "Late Fees," and "Utility Responsibilities."
Comparison Shop: Use unit pricing to find the cheapest household essentials (toilet paper, cleaning supplies) at local stores like Aldi or Walmart.
- Map a "Move-In" Budget: Total up the one-time costs of moving (truck rental, deposits, furniture) using addition and subtraction.

- The "Apartment Hunt" Project: Students are given a "Starter Salary" (based on their work from Unit 1). They must find a local listing, calculate if they can afford it using the 30% rule, and list the total "Move-In" cost required.
- The Lease Scavenger Hunt: Students are given a mock 5-page lease agreement and must answer 10 "What if?" questions (ex. "What happens if you pay your rent on the 5th of the month?").

- Grocery Store Simulation: Using a circular from a Meriden grocery store, students must "shop" for one week of meals with a strictly capped $75 budget, calculating totals and sales tax (6.35%).

-The "Reality Check" Quiz: A scenario-based test where students must decide if a person should "Sign the Lease" or "Keep Looking" based on a provided income and debt profile.