Hobbies And Interests
Beat Debt
The Consumer Credit Counseling Service created the game "Beat Debt" to teach kids ages 10 and up to be educated users of credit cards. The game allows you to utilize your extra income on investments or to make payments to your credit-card debt. The first person who has zero credit-card debt and at least $5,000 in investments wins the game. The game claims to assist players in learning intelligent financial investment strategies that can keep them from getting into debt.
Celebrity Calamity
The Financial Entertainment Web site offers a game called "Celebrity Calamity" that allows kids to act as financial managers to fictional celebrities that they select. These celebrities are quickly starting bad financial habits, such as living beyond their means, and kids need to figure out how much of the celebrity&'s income they can set aside to pay off the credit-card debt without making their client furious. Furthermore, kids can advise the celebrity on which paying gig to take and then, using the arrow keys on the computer, literally catch the money as the celebrity makes it. As long as you continue to keep the client&'s debt paid off and catch the money made, your client won&'t fire you, and you&'ll win the game.
Credit-Card Simulator
The Channel One News Web site has a very simple game that does exactly what its name says: It simulates what it&'s like to use a real credit card. This game is best for kids who already understand terms such as "APR" and "annual fee." Kids start by choosing a credit card to apply for, and then they get to go shopping, picking out as many things as they want. However, the credit card stops them if they&'re about to go over their credit limit. When they&'re finished shopping, they check out, and they get a monthly credit-card bill that itemizes the costs, taxes, and fees, as well as how long they have to pay it off.