StockTrak’s Budget Game is an immersive resource to help teach personal finance in classes around the world. One of the strongest features of our game is its immersive play and how each choice players make having long-term impact on how the game plays out – and our Weekend Choices put long-term consequences right at the forefront!
Working For The Weekend
At the end of each simulated week in the budget game, users are prompted to choose how to spend their Saturday. They have the option to “Work Extra Hours” to earn more cash if they are having trouble hitting their savings goals, “Household Chores” to work around the house, “Socialize” and spend time with friends to earn Quality of Life points, or “Study” (while in school) or “Professional Development” (while working a full-time job).
Work Extra Hours
“Work Extra Hours” is analogous to participating in the “gig economy” in the real world – taking on side work for extra cash. For simplicity in the Budget Game, the user has the opportunity to do extra work for their regular employer (so their earnings will appear on their next regular paycheck instead of separate 1099 income).
Work Extra Hours Mini-Games
When a player chooses to “Work Extra Hours”, they will choose a mini-game to complete, which determines how much money they will earn.
The “Slide Puzzle Game” involves sliding numbers to double to 2048 – with extra cash earned based on how high they can get before running out of turns or 1 minute has passed.
The Cafe mini-game is only available while students are in part-time mode (in which they already work in a cafe as their primary job). The scenario is that they are taking an opportunity to pick up an extra shift at work – they need to wait on tables to earn tips by delivering orders to tables who request them, and taking dirty dishes back to the kitchen to free up a table after a customer has left.
Players receive cash for each successful food delivery to a table. They are also required to return dirty dishes to the kitchen. Although clearing dishes does not generate additional income, it is necessary before the table can be made available for the next customer.
During a one-minute “shift,” players seek to maximize their earnings, which are then added to their subsequent in-game paycheck.
Game Impact of Working Extra Hours
In contrast to other weekend choices, Working Extra Hours does not include special bonuses or additional point-based rewards. The activity solely generates cash, which can assist players in reaching their monthly savings objectives more efficiently.
Household Chores
When users choose to take care of their household chores over the weekend, it means things like cleaning house, meal prepping for the week ahead, or reviewing their bills to see if they can negotiate better rates or find alternative providers. Generally the boring but necessary work of “adulting”.
Household Mini-Game: Comparison Grocery Shopping
Knowing how to comparison shop for the best deal is a a fundamental skill for every consumer. Different package sizes, different perceived quality, and different prices can be confusing to navigate, especially for young people.
This activity directs the user to the virtual grocery store, where they are tasked with purchasing three items from their shopping list. For each item, they are presented with three possible options, each varying in price, quantity, and quality score.
The objective for students is to evaluate and balance quality, quantity, and price when deciding which option to purchase.
Two types of points can be earned:
- Quality of Life Points – awarded based on the quality score and quantity of the items selected.
- Smart Shopper Bonus – additional points applied directly to the player’s overall Game Score. These are earned when the player selects the “best value” for each item, determined by the optimal combination of quality, quantity, and price.
Because certain items may go on sale at random during each visit, the best-value choice can vary from week to week—encouraging players to adapt their decision-making accordingly.
Game Impact of Taking Care of Household Chores
Choosing to take care of household chores on the weekend has two impacts on gameplay. First, neglecting too long will introduce “penalty” events to the game (cockroach infestations that require an expensive terminator, fines from a landlord, ect).
The second is that spending time on household chores can save money in the long-run, with random bonuses given every 2 times the user makes this weekend choice. This can include a “meal prep” bonus that reduces the player’s next grocery bill, a “cell phone plan negotiation” that gives a discount on their next cell phone bill, “car insurance research” can results in finding a better rate for car insurance (potentially permanently reducing that bill), and other smaller boosts that help the student save more every month.
Socializing
Socializing means spending time with friends and family – this is an important part of the game’s Quality of Life score. Choosing to Socialize (usually) means an event that costs some money, like going to a concert or out for movies with friends, but it comes with a bigger boost to Quality of Life than most other types of spending in the game.
Socialize Mini-Game: Weekend Planning and Time Management
When the player chooses to “Socialize”, it launches our Weekend Planning Mini-Game.
This mini-game centers on deciding how to spend a Saturday with friends. Players can choose from a variety of events located in different neighborhoods within the game’s virtual city. Each event differs in type, location, and participation cost, and players are free to build their weekend schedule with as many or as few activities as they wish.
Game Scoring
The Time Management game does not have a strictly “correct” or “incorrect” way to play. Instead, it integrates directly into the broader budgeting mechanics of the Budget Game. The choices players make—both in terms of which activities to attend and how much they are willing to spend—will influence their overall monthly budget.
Key scoring elements include:
- Quality of Life Points: Awarded at 1.5 times the cost of each event (compared to other parts of the Budget Game, where spending typically yields 1 point per dollar).
- Event Duration: Each event lasts between 1 and 4 hours.
- Travel Time: Moving between neighborhoods requires travel time, with longer distances taking more time. Efficient scheduling of nearby events can allow for more activities in a single day, thereby earning more points.
- Time-Specific Events: Certain activities are only available in the morning or afternoon, adding complexity to planning when also considering friends’ availabilities and travel routes.
- Home Option: Players may choose to spend time at home for free, providing a small Quality of Life boost. This option represents rest and recovery, without the fatigue associated with Studying or Working Extra Hours.
This game reinforces one of the Budget Game’s central themes: balancing discretionary spending for social and recreational purposes (enhancing Quality of Life) with more cost-conscious choices that make it easier to meet savings goals.
Game Impact of Socializing
The total game score of the Budget Game is based on setting (and hitting) monthly savings goals of at least 10% of their expected income, building and maintaining a strong Credit Score through the responsible use of a credit card, building and maintaining an Emergency Fund of at least $1,000, and last building a high level of Quality of Life. Students are encouraged to socialize and spend time (and money) with friends, but this earns comparatively few points if their other financial goals are not yet met – meaning over-socializing and putting their credit or savings goals in peril is a quick way for students to blow their monthly budget.
Study/Professional Development
The last Weekend Choice is to Study (while in Part-Time Mode) or Professional Development (while in Full Time Mode). This involves working on improving grades or professional skills (joining a study group, earning an online skill-based certification, ect).
Study Mini-Game: The Wealth Whiz Quiz
The Wealth Whiz Quiz is designed to engage students in financial literacy while reinforcing key concepts. It transforms learning into an interactive, game show–style activity, enabling students to both acquire knowledge and earn in-game rewards.
Integration in the Budget Game
When students select Study/Professional Development as their weekend activity within the Budget Game, the Wealth Whiz Quiz is launched. This feature presents a dynamic, 10-question challenge drawn from a pool of financial literacy topics.
Game Show–Style Experience
Students enter a virtual game show environment hosted by Tia, an animated character who reacts in real time to their performance. Her expressions—ranging from neutral to enthusiastic, concerned, or embarrassed—mirror the player’s progress, adding engagement and motivation.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Students answer 10 multiple-choice questions, randomly selected from the content library.
- A 60-second timer creates a sense of urgency and focus.
- Immediate feedback is provided after each question, indicating “Correct” or “Incorrect” before moving to the next prompt.
Scoring Structure
- +20 points for each correct answer.
- –5 points for each incorrect answer.
- Points are credited directly toward the player’s in-game savings goal or emergency fund bonus, reinforcing the connection between good financial decisions and positive outcomes.
End-of-Game Summary
Upon completion, students receive a performance overview that includes:
- Number of questions attempted
- Number of correct answers
- Accuracy percentage
- Total bonus points earned
Game Impact of Study/Professional Development
While players are in part-time mode, they are encouraged to study frequently – neglecting to do so can result in failing grades and the need to hire an (expensive) tutor to catch up in classes. Students who study frequently in part-time mode also have an added bonus – when they “Graduate” and the game switches to full-time mode, they will have a higher starting salary than their peers who did not.
Neglecting to study in Full-Time Mode does not carry the same penalty, but choosing to take part has a chance of earning a permanent raise – greatly enhancing their ability to save (and improve their Quality of Life).
We could not be more excited for these enhancements to the game – each choice has a bigger, bolder impact to reinforce student learning in a different area of financial literacy and helps bring these concepts to life!
-The StockTrak Team