Living On Your Own

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Living on Your Own
Objectives:
• Students will explore what it takes to be financially independent by exploring the items
that they already own.
• Students will practice comprehension skills by reading and answering questions for a
sample lease agreement. This will also provide students with the knowledge of the
aspects of a typical lease agreement.
Procedure:
1. Begin the lesson by asking students if they have ever thought about the price of their
bedroom. Not just the physical space, but the items that fill it? Lead a class discussion
and ask student to estimate what the items they own might have cost.
2. Next hand out the “Living on Your Own: The Cost to Furnish your Bedroom” worksheet.
Ask students to answer each question. If they are unsure of the price have them look
the item up, or something similar.
3. Go over each question as a class, asking for students to share what they came up with.
4. Next put students into groups (or if distance learning, assign each student a specific
room to set up) and handout the “Living on Your Own: Calculate the cost of setting up
an apartment or redecorating a home” worksheet.
5. Allow students time to research and answer each question.
6. Group students based on the rooms they researched. If distance learning, use “breakout
rooms” for students to have discussions before bringing it back together as a whole
class. Ask students to find the average price of setting up their room based on all the
data they collected.
7. Finish the lesson by having students read the “Sample Lease Agreement.” Read it as a
group so you can help define each of the terms as you go through the agreement. When
you are finished instruct students to fill in the comprehension questions.
8. To close the lesson lead a discussion about what students learned about living on their
own. Is it more expensive or less expensive than they assumed? Had they ever thought
about the amount their parents or guardians put into their personal space?
Name____________________________________________________
Living on Your Own:

Estimate the Cost to Furnish Your Bedroom
Directions: On a sheet of paper, prepare a list of all the major items in your bedroom. Include
bedding, furniture, and any items of comfort you have. Then estimate the cost of each item and
answer the questions below. After estimating see if you can find the actual or similar item
online to see what the real price of each item is.
1. Which items did you include?
2. How did the total compare to what you expected?
3. Which items did you underestimate the cost of?
4. Which items did you overestimate the cost of?

Name____________________________________________________
Living on Your Own:

Calculate the Cost of Setting Up an Apartment or Redecorating a Home
Directions: Each team member should pick one room (choices include kitchen, dining room,
bedroom, living room, and bathroom). Research how much it would cost to furnish and equip
the room. Consider various alternatives, including secondhand stores, garage sales, donations
from relatives, etc.
1. Which items did you include?
2. What was your source for the cost of each item?
3. What was the total cost?
4. How did the total compare to what you expected?

Extension:
Interview your family and friends about:
• How much it costs to rent an apartment

• How costs are divided up among roommates
• The pros and cons of having roommates
• What to pay attention to when reading a lease
• What it costs to furnish an apartment
• Setting up and sticking to a budget
2. Write up your findings. As a class, collate your findings and create a “The Price to Move Out”
Handbook.
Sample Lease Agreement
Directions: Read the rental and lease agreement below and answer the
questions that follow.
Rental and Lease Agreement

The lessor in this agreement is the Apartments for You, Inc.
The name of the tenant, or lessee, is Evelyn Love.
Apartment 3-B will be referred to as “the premises.”
The monthly rental amount is $875.00. This includes water, sewer,
and $50.00 for a pet.
$350.00 is the dollar amount that will be referred to as the security
deposit.
$200.00 is the amount referred to as the pet fee. This fee is non-
refundable. No pet over 20 lbs. is allowed.
$15.00 is the dollar amount referred to as the key deposit.
$30.00 is the dollar amount charged for late fees after the 5th of
each month.
The lessor leases the premises to the lessee for the term of one
year according to the following conditions:
1) The lessee agrees to pay the monthly rental amount of
$875.00 on or before the first day of each month.
2) The lessee will pay the lessor a security deposit of $350.00.

The lessor may take all or part of the security deposit should
damages occur due to:
a) Nonpayment of rent
b) Damage to the premises
c) Failure to return the premises in a cleaned condition
3) Should the premises be vacated by the lessee before the

expiration of the term of the lease, the lessee will be
responsible for the monthly payment until the lease expires.
4) If the tenant is more than five days late in paying the monthly
rental payment of $875.00, the tenant will pay a $30.00 late
fee in addition to the rent.
5) The lessee will lose his key deposit if he loses his key to the
premises.
6) The tenant, his family, and guests will follow the rules in this
agreement. The tenant may be evicted if these rules are not
followed:
a) Smoking is not allowed inside the apartment.
b) There are to be no more than 5 visitors at a time.
c) Loud music is not permitted.
Signature ______________________ Date______________

Questions:
1. How long is the term of this lease agreement? _________________
2. How could the tenant lose her deposit?

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. Will she get the $200 pet fee back? ____________________
4. What happens if the tenant moves out before the lease expires?
_____________________________________________________
5. Name two rules in the lease agreement.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
6. When is the rent due? ____________________________________
7. How much will the lessee pay if she pays the rent after the 5th of the
month? _______________________________________________

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Living on Your Own:

2. How did the total compare to what you expected?

3. Which items did you underestimate the cost of?

4. Which items did you overestimate the cost of?

Living on Your Own:

2. What was your source for the cost of each item?

3. What was the total cost?

4. How did the total compare to what you expected?

• How much it costs to rent an apartment

Rental and Lease Agreement

2) The lessee will pay the lessor a security deposit of $350.00.

3) Should the premises be vacated by the lessee before the

Signature ______________________ Date______________

1. How long is the term of this lease agreement? _________________

2. How could the tenant lose her deposit?

3. Will she get the $200 pet fee back? ____________________

5. Name two rules in the lease agreement.

6. When is the rent due? ____________________________________

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Signature ________ Date