Graduation, then what?

A WebQuery for 12th Grade

Nicole Engeberg
engebergn@cwu.edu

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Introduction

In a few months, you will be graduating high school. What are your plans? Are you going to college? Are you moving out of your parents' house? Are you getting a job? Whatever, your plans might be you will probably be moving into a new house, apartment, or dorm room. You will need to buy new things for your new place. What kinds of things will you need? It depends on where you plan to live.

As a graduating senior, it is your responsibility to buy the things you will need. Where will you get the money? Your parents will provide you with some money, and then you will use some of your graduation monies. So get ready to spend some money and set up your new home.

Task

Now, it is almost time to start spending, but first you need to know what things must presented at the end of this task. You will need to include the following things:

"blueprints" of your future place of residence
a list of things you will already have
a list of things you will need to purchase
a list of things you actually purchased
a receipt showing the cost of each item purchased

The Process

To assist you in the task here are some helpful questions to consider.

What type of place will you be living in?
Where will you be living?
What things should be included on the "blueprint"?
What kinds of things will be in the home already?
What things will you need to buy?
Who will be living with you?
Will you each bring your own things or will you split the shopping?
Where can you find the best deal?
Where can you cut out expenses to stay within your budget?
What kind of stores should you shop?
Did you have the items shipped?
Does that cost get counted?
Do you have everything you need for the bathrooms?
Do you have everything you need for the kitchen?
Do you have everything you need for the bedrooms?
Do you have everything you need for the living room?

First, decide where you will most likely be living next year. It may be your parents' house, a house, an apartment, or a dorm room. Draw the "blueprints" or a sketch of the interior of the place you decide.

Create your lists according to where you will be living. Then make good decisions about what are the essential things you will need. You will receive $400 from your parents, and you may use $200 of your graduation monies. Your purchases must come within $5.00 of the $600.

Finally, once you have gone shopping, include a receipt of what was actually purchased and its cost (this won't be an actual receipt, but you must design one).

Resources

Here are a few sites that might be helpful in completing the task. You may also use other sites you enjoy shopping at. Don't forget to compare costs, so you can get the best deal. Most of the sites have weekly ads available online.

Walmart - Shop for almost anything here. From electronics to kitchen accessories to decorative things to furniture.
Best Buy - Shop here for most appliances and/or home electronics.
Circuit City - Find home electronics and some appliances here.
Bed Bath and Beyond - Find anything for the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms. You could find some small kitchen appliances here and linens for any room.
JC Penney - Shop for home decorative items, linens, and furniture.

Evaluation

The "blueprints" will be graded on neatness, whether the design makes sense, if all parts such as walls, windows, doors, etc are included, and overall presentation of it. It may be hand drawn (make sure to use a straightedge) or it can be done on the computer. (30 points)

Each of the lists will be graded on the completeness, appropriateness of each item, and how necessary the items are. (Each list 20 points)

The sales receipts will be graded on their resemblance to an actual receipt, the details included such as date, store name, items, price, quantity, payment method, etc, and the overall presention of it. (30 points, note: you will have more than one receipt unless everything was purchased from the same store on the same visit.)

Conclusion

Now you are a little bit more informed about what goes into moving into a new place. Hopefully, it will make it easier for you when you actually have to do it. Next time, you should know what kinds of things to consider, and what things aren't as important.

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