Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Freedom at last — what does that mean?
Year level: Year 9 and 10
Duration: 60 minutes (lesson 1 of 2 connecting lessons)
Key learning area: English, Mathematics, *Economics and business
Lesson description
Students explore and investigate the consumer rookie errors associated with moving out of
home. Learning begins with watching the MoneySmart Rookie: ‘Moving out' video. Students then
discuss and reflect on the financial positives and negatives of moving out of home, including their
investigation of rental leases and bonds, living expenses, household budgeting, share
housemate compatibility, and tenancy rights and responsibilities.
In the second part of the lesson students complete an activity worksheet to investigate the
necessary knowledge and precautions required to avoid making rookie errors when moving out
of home. The lesson concludes with the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and
skills in an interactive practice conversation using the ‘Moving out of home’ convo.
Enduring understanding/deep learnings:
There are costs and considerations related to moving out of home.
You can save money and avoid common 'rookie errors' if you consider rental leases and bonds,
living expenses, household budgeting, share housemate compatibility, and tenancy rights and
responsibilities before moving out of home.
You can access help from tenant unions, advocacy groups and government consumer agencies
when lease and tenancy issues arise from moving out of home.
* Please note that this lesson plan has been aligned with the draft Economics and business curriculum.
This mapping will be confirmed when the curriculum is endorsed.
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Activity 1: MoneySmart Rookie – ‘Moving out’ video (12 minutes)
Task 1: Watch the MoneySmart Rookie – ‘’Moving out’ video (Duration 7 minutes).
*Teacher tip: This video has mild sexual references and you should view it and assess its suitability
before showing students.
Task 2: Discussion of key messages from video (Duration 5 minutes)
Ask students, “What were the seven key messages of the MoneySmart Rookie – 'Moving out’ video?”
Answers should focus on:
Signing a rental agreement – if your name's on the lease, you’re legally required to pay rent, bond,
any expenses for property damage and special requirements such as gardening
Bond – usually four weeks rent paid before taking up tenancy
Living expenses – food, gas/electricity, internet, furniture
Budgeting – you generally need twice your monthly rent costs to cover living expenses
Share house advantages/disadvantages
Basic tenancy rights and responsibilities
Where to seek advice if you struggle to pay your living expenses such as your rent.
Discuss responses as they are suggested.
Activity 2: Moving out of home considerations (10 minutes)
Task 1: Identifying considerations
Distribute Worksheet 1: Moving out of home considerations mind map. Ask students to write in the centre
circle ‘Moving out of home considerations'. Ask students to write six main considerations related to moving
out of home in each of the connecting circles:
Living arrangements
Rent
Food
Furniture
Gas/electricity/water/internet costs
Budgeting
Tenancy advice
Ask students to elaborate by writing three dot points for each main consideration (within each connecting
circle). Points could include:
Lease – who signs? Legal liability, length of lease, lease terms, bond
Share house – sharing costs, tenants' responsibilities, housemate compatibility
Rent – monthly costs, bond payment, payment difficulties
Food: monthly costs, value for money and nutritional value, perishable items (for example, bread
milk meat/vegetables) versus non-perishable items (for example, cleaning products, canned food,
personal items such as toothpaste)
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Furniture – essential item costs, e.g. bed, chair, fridge – versus non-essential items,
e.g. PlayStation/computer, microwave). Buy new/second-hand/bring from home?
Gas/electricity/water/internet costs: monthly expenses – who pays? How are the costs shared? How
to keep costs down.
Budgeting/tenancy advice – income stream. How are you going to pay the bills – job, parents?
Budget planning, where to seek budget/tenancy advice?
Task 2: Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a rental property
Ask students to identify three advantages and three disadvantages of sharing a rental property with one or
more people.
Example responses:
Advantages
Great way to meet new friends, develop social networks (particularly for rural students), and it may
be safer.
Sharing the bills reduces living costs.
Each house member can bring various pieces of furniture/whitegoods to share, reducing costs.
Disadvantages
Squabbles and arguments over who pays what share of living expenses.
Arguments over lifestyle factors such as cleaning, entertaining and the use of the kitchen, bathroom
or television.
Legal liability issues regarding property damage, bond repayments, failure to pay rent.
Make the observation that getting along with the people you plan to share a house with is an important
factor in making the move out of home a success. Compatible lifestyles are important as well as a
common understanding of shared financial obligations.
Activity 3: Share housemate compatibility case study (20 minutes)
Task 1: Case study
In this task students will read and discuss a case study based on Vicki from the 'Moving out' video. Vicki
learnt some hard lessons about the costs of moving out of home as well as the importance of having
reliable housemates in a share house. When the 'party animal' moves out she decides to make sure that
the new housemate is compatible with the other people living there. First of all Vicki answers some
questions about herself. She then asks the same questions of the people who apply to move in to work
out if they are compatible.
Ask students to read the case study and then in small groups of three or four students discuss
which person would make the best housemate for Vicki.
Ask the class if there are any other questions they would ask to check housemate compatibility.
*Teacher tip: If you have time, ask the students to develop responses to the ten questions for themselves
reflecting on whether they would make a compatible housemate for Vicki.
The case study is based around the questions below.
1. How will you pay your share of the rent and household bills each week?
2. Have you ever lived in a share house before?
3. Can you bring any furniture or electrical appliances to the share house?
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
4. Will you have a job or be studying?
5. What do you think is important to think about when you share a house with other people?
6. Is it important to pay the bills, or would you just have fun with friends and catch up on bills with the
next pay?
7. What would you enjoy doing on weekends if you had no money because bills and rent had to be
paid?
8. Could you get money from your parents or someone else to help pay rent or bills if you needed to?
9. Do you just guess how much money you should put aside from each pay, or do you have some kind
of budget to help you work it out?
10. Do you like the idea of having a 'share house meeting' every couple of weeks to bring up any
problems and discuss expenses?
Extension activity
Have the students break up into groups of three or four. Have each group develop a set of questions that
they think would be suitable to ask of a prospective new housemate. Remind them that financial
compatibility is the main aim for this exercise. They will need to create at least four open ended questions
that will give them the information they need to find someone suitable. One person from each group
moves to another group as an 'applicant' to be 'interviewed' by the next group of students who are role
playing as the current occupants of a share house who are looking for a new housemate. At the end of the
exercise the interviewers will need to decide if the applicant is suitable or not. To give the interviewers
more choices the applicant could move on to the next group and apply to be housemate with another
group.
Reflection (5 minutes)
1. List three things that you learned today about moving out of home.
2. In your opinion, which of these components is the most important to you?
3. What else did you learn about moving out of home today?
Conclude Moving out Lesson 1 by flagging the next lesson's use of an online conversation tool. Students
will participate in a simulated conversation with a real estate agent to learn about rental agreements. They
will also explore:
MoneySmart Budget Planner
Reading the fine print on leases
Landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities.
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Resources
1. MoneySmart Rookie 'Moving out' video
2. Data projector/TV and DVD player or computer
3. 'Moving out of home' convo
4. Activity worksheet/s
5. Computers with internet access
6. ASIC's MoneySmart and MoneySmart Teaching websites
Additional resources
This lesson plan is part of the MoneySmart Rookie suite of resources for educators which can be
accessed at: http://teaching.moneysmart.gov.au/resource-centre/moneysmart-rookie-for-educators.
Other topics include:
Credit and debt
First car
First job
Mobile phone ownership
Online financial transactions
The Under 25s section of the MoneySmart website has additional MoneySmart Rookie materials for
young people including case studies, videos, tips and tools and calculators. These can be accessed at:
https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/life-events-and-you/under-25s
The MoneySmart Teaching secondary package has a number of units of work related to this lesson
plan. The package can be downloaded for free at: http://teaching.moneysmart.gov.au/professionallearning/moneysmart-teaching-packages.
The Financial Health for Teachers personal learning program is designed to inspire and empower
teachers to take charge of their financial lives and of the choices they make as consumers. Read current
issues, or subscribe at http://teaching.moneysmart.gov.au/professional-learning/financial-health-forteachers.
The Australian Taxation Office has developed Tax, Super and You, a resource to guide students learning
about their future tax and superannuation obligations at http://www.taxsuperandyou.gov.au/.
English Year 9 Could I live smaller?
Online transactions, consumerism, shopping online
English Year 10 Teens talk money.
Financial planning, online payments, budgeting
Mathematics Year 9 How can we obtain more money?
Earning, managing and growing money, achieving goals, data analysis, statistics and samples
Mathematics Year 10 Reaching goals: What's involved?
Setting goals and planning, compound interest in a range of financial contexts, risks and rewards of
borrowing money.
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Worksheet 1: Moving out of home considerations mind map
NAME: ____________________________________________
Complete the following mind map by writing ’Moving out of home expenses’ in the centre circle and listing
the six main expenses related to moving out of home in the other circles. Further explain each
consideration by listing dot points for each one.
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Worksheet 2: Share housemate compatibility case study
NAME: ____________________________________________
The 'Moving out' video features Vicki who learnt some hard lessons about the costs of moving out of home
as well as the importance of having reliable housemates. When the 'party animal' moves out and a room
becomes vacant Vicki decides that this time around she will interview prospective housemates to find out
who would be a 'good fit' or compatible with the other members of the household.
First of all Vicki lists ten questions which she thinks will help decide the right housemate. She then
answers the questions herself to understand more about what she is like to share with.
Instruction/s
Compare Vicki's answers with those of the two people interviewed and decide which person would be a
compatible housemate.
Are there any other questions you would ask to check housemate compatibility?
Vicki's questions:
1. Will you have a job or be studying?
2. How will you pay your share of the rent and household bills each week?
3. Have you ever lived in a share house before?
4. Can you bring any furniture or electrical appliances to the share house?
5. What do you think is important to think about when you share a house with other people?
6. Is it important to pay the bills, or would you just have fun with friends and catch up on bills with the
next pay?
7. What would you enjoy doing on weekends if you had no money because bills and rent had to be
paid?
8. Could you get money from your parents or someone else to help pay rent or bills if you needed to?
9. Do you just guess how much money you should put aside from each pay, or do you have some kind
of budget to help you work it out?
10. Do you like the idea of having a 'share house meeting' every couple of weeks to bring up any
problems and discuss expenses?
Vicki
1. I am studying full-time and working part-time in a restaurant, with a lot of evening shifts. I love a
good party but I also need to pass exams and make it to work on time so I can't share with people
who like to party all night every night.
2. I earn good money so paying the rent and bills is not a problem. At first I didn't realise how much
money was needed after rent but I am on top of that now and have learnt that having a budget is
important. Each housemate pays their part of the rent into a savings account when they get paid so
it is ready to pay on rent day. We split the household bills evenly but pay for our own groceries
because we eat really different foods and I often eat at the restaurant where I work.
3. I have been living in a share household for six months and really love it. It's great to have people
around all the time as there is always someone to talk to.
4. We have all the basic household appliances between us with a fridge and furniture although a
washing machine would be good as we have to use the laundrette to do washing.
5. I think we all need to pull our 'weight' with money. We once had this guy who had a big party when
the rest of us were away for the weekend and there was heaps of damage with a $3,000 bill! I was
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
really shocked to find that everyone on the lease had to pay for this damage when the guy 'skipped'
out of town. And although I am not a neat freak, dirty dishes and hair all over the bathroom is really
yuck.
6. We once didn't pay the electricity bill on time because it was around New Year and we were all
broke and kept putting it off. Then the lights went out and even worse all the food in the fridge was
spoilt. We've learnt our lesson and pay the bills on time now.
7. Well there is always free stuff to do like going to the beach.
8. I try to not ask my folks for any money. After all, I have moved out of home and keep telling them I
am an adult! But if I was in a tight corner I might ask to borrow money and pay them back from my
next pay.
9. I learnt the hard way that I need to budget because I had no idea how much money I actually
needed to move out of home.
10. Having a share house meeting was my bright idea. After the 'party animal' moved out we had to sit
around the table and actually work out how we were going to pay for the damages and who was
going to talk to the landlord about paying in instalments. So far it is working well.
Sam
I work full-time and would make a good housemate as I have lived in about four other share houses. I
have a washing machine and am happy for everyone to use it. I like to have a good time and be with
people who are fun. My favourite weekend activities are clubbing and sleeping, although during the
week I keep regular hours. I put aside money for rent but sometimes run out of money for the bills. It's
okay if they are a few days late as you get a reminder notice. I never ask for money from my parents
or friends. A meeting sounds a bit formal. Could we just catch up when we need to?
Jo
I study full-time and work part-time which makes things a bit tight with money but I manage. I have
lived in a share house before. I don't have a washing machine but would be willing to buy a secondhand one which we could all use. I like to have a good time and to be with people who are fun. My
favourite weekend activities are partying and sleeping although during the week I keep regular hours. I
have to be careful with money as my parents need me to stand on my own feet so I pay rent and bills
first and then can spend whatever is left. I would like to travel overseas in two years time so will need
to start saving. A meeting sounds formal but I'll give it a go.
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Lesson plan 1: Moving out of home
Links to the Australian Curriculum and National Consumer and Financial Literacy Framework
Australian Curriculum content
English
Understand how language use can have inclusive and exclusive social effects, and can empower or
disempower people (ACELA1564) (Language/Language for interaction).
Analyse and explain how text structures, language features and visual features of texts and the
context in which texts are experienced may influence audience response (ACELT1641) (Literature/
Responding to literature).
Mathematics
Evaluate statistical reports in the media and other places by linking claims to displays, statistics and
representative data (ACMSP253) (Statistics and Probability/Data representation and interpretation).
Economics and business
Year 9
Ways of managing consumer and financial risks to individuals and the community.
Year 10
The range of factors influencing consumer choice including marketing by financial institutions.
National Consumer and Financial Literacy student learnings
Discuss and compare different sources of consumer and financial advice.
Apply informed and assertive consumer decision making in a range of ‘real life’ contexts.
ASIC’s MoneySmart Teaching initiative builds the consumer and financial literacy capabilities of Australian school
students by developing students’ knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to enable them to make confident,
informed consumer choices and responsible financial decisions that are essential to their future financial wellbeing.
To view the MoneySmart Teaching Primary and Secondary packages and all the online and digital resources visit
www.teaching.moneysmart.gov.au
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