Lesson 1: The "30% Rule" and Apartment Hunting
Duration of Days: 7
Lesson Objective
Students will calculate their maximum affordable rent (Gross x 0.30) and search Meriden listings.
Can I afford a luxury apartment on minimum wage?
Net vs. Gross Income
Affordability
Landlord
NRT.Q.1
CRP.03
Description: Students use multiplication (Gross x 0.30) to calculate their "Rent Ceiling" and then "shop" through local Meriden listings to find a match.
Purpose: To establish a realistic boundary between income and housing costs, preventing students from overextending their finances.
DOK Level: 2
Provide a "Rent Ceiling" cheat sheet (ex. If you make $2,710 gross, you can spend $813).
Finding a real Meriden listing (ex. Harbor Towers) and showing the math to prove it fits a $2,710 monthly gross income.
Meriden "Rent Map" (local listings from Harbor Towers, Arbor Park, etc.), "Rent vs. Income" sliders, and calculators.