Provide the Overall Handout before beginning the module.

Suggested Introduction

During this module, we will discuss how much it will cost to be a renter. Besides the rent, what else have you had to pay for when renting in the past? (You may want to make a list on flip chart/board.)

Knowing the answer to this question is very important before looking seriously at renting. In reality, the actual costs of living in a rental unit are more than the cost of rent alone. This module will help you determine the total costs of a unit you wish to rent, and ways to compare several places to help you make the best choice.

Activities

Activity 1: What Do the Ads Tell You

Activity 2: Comparing Rental Costs

Activity 3: Balancing Income and Expenses (Case Studies)

Activity 4: Creating a Spending Plan

Activity 5: Small Change Adds Up (Optional)

Activity 6: Group Budgeting Exercise (Optional)

Learning Assessment

Have participants learned the key concepts of this Rent Smart module? The following questions or activities are recommended to assess participant understanding of the information covered in this module.

• List 2 reasons why it is important to compare rental properties before making a selection?
• What are 2 monthly costs to keep in mind when determining the total monthly costs of a rental unit?
• What are your 2 main sources of income?
• What are your 2 largest expenses?
• What are 2 ways to track spending?
• What are 2 ways you could decrease expenses?